Epirus
Ancient Coins from Epirus for sale in the Forum Ancient Coins shop
Babelon, E. "Les Roi Pyrrhos" in CPANS.
Babelon, E. Traité des Monnaies Grecques et Romaines. (Paris, 1901-1932).
Burnett, A., M. Amandry, et al. Roman Provincial Coinage. (London, 1992 - )
Calciati, R. Pegasi II. (Mortara, 1990).
Forrer, L. Descriptive Catalogue of the Collection of Greek Coins formed by Sir Hermann Weber. (1922 - 1929).
Franke, P. R. Die antiken Münzen von Epirus. (Wiesbaden, 1961).
Gardner, P.A Catalogue of Greek Coins in the British Museum, Thessaly to Aetolia. (London, 1883).
Grose, S. W. Catalogue of the McClean Collection of Greek Coins, Fizwilliam Museum, Volume II - The Greek mainland, the Aegaean islands, Crete. (Cambridge, 1926).
Head, B. Catalogue of Greek Coins in the British Museum, Corinth, Colonies of Corinth, Etc. (London, 1889).
Hoover, Oliver D. Handbook of Coins of the Islands: Adriatic, Ionian, Thracian, Aegean, and Carpathian Seas (Excluding Crete and Cyprus), Sixth to First Centuries BC. (Lancaster, 2010).
Mildenberg, L. and S. Hurter, eds. The Dewing Collection of Greek Coins. ACNAC 6. (New York, 1985).
Numismatik Lanz. Münzen von Korinth: Sammlung BCD, Auction 105. (Munich, 26 November 2001).
Oikonomidou, M.K. E Nomismatokopoia tes Nikopoleos. (Athens, 1975).
Postolacca, A., Καταλ. των αρχ. νομ. Κερκυρας, κ.τ.λ. (Athens, 1868).
Ravel, O. E. Les "Poulains" de Corinthe, I - II. (Basel, 1936; London, 1948).
Schlosser, J. von. Beschreibung der Altgreichischen Münzen I: Thessalien, Illyrien, Dalmatien und die Inseln des Adriatischen Meeres, Epeiros. (Vienna, 1893).
Sear, D. Greek Coins and Their Values, Volume 1: Europe. (London, 1978).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Denmark, The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Danish National Museum, Vol. 3: Greece: Thessaly to Aegean Islands. (West Milford, NJ, 1982).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Deutschland, München Staatlische Münzsammlung, Part 12: Thessalien-Illyrien-Epirus-Korkyra. (Berlin, 2007).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, France, Bibliothèque National, Collection Jean et Marie Delepierre. (Paris, 1983).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Greece 1, Collection Réna H. Evelpidis, Part 2: Macédoine - Thessalie - Illyrie - Epire - Corcyre. (Athens, 1975).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Greece 6, The Alpha Bank Numismatic Collection, From Thessaly to Euboea. (Athens, 2011).
Vlasto, M.P. "Alexander, son of Neoptolemos, of Epirus" in NC 1926.
(i) The earliest money of Epirus consists of silver coins of Corinthian types and standard, struck before Epirus became a kingdom, B.C. 342, at the town of Ambracia, and of bronze coins of Cassope, Elea, and the
Molossi, anterior to the regal period. (ii) The second period of the coinage includes that of the kings, Alexander the son of Neoptolemus, B.C. 342-326, and Pyrrhus, 295-272. (iii) B.C. 238-168. There are
bronze coins reading ΑΠΕΙΡΩΤΑΝ, which are certainly earlier than the abolition of the monarchy, but the regular series of the Epirote Federal money did not begin till the Republic was fully constituted on the death
of Ptolemy, the last of the royal race of the Aeacidae, B.C. 238.
The autonomous coinage appears to have gone on in some of the towns of Epirus side by side with the Federal money. After B.C. 168, when Epirus was devastated by the Romans and its inhabitants sold into slavery, all coinage ceased.
The prevailing types on the coins of Epirus are the heads of Zeus Dodonaeos and of Dione his spouse. The former is distinguished by his wreath of oak-leaves from the sacred oracular oak of Dodona. The latter
wears a veil and a laureate stephanos (see BMC Thessaly, Pl. XVII). The gold and silver coins of the kings were probably struck in Italy and Sicily.
Ambracia.
The most important colony of Corinth on the Ambracian Gulf. Silver staters of Corinthian type circ. B.C. 480-342, and later (BMC Corinth, Pls. XXVII-XXIX). Inscr., Α, ΑΜ, ΑΜΠΡΑΚΙΩΤΑΝ,
or ΑΜΒΡΑΚΙΩΤΑΝ. Of these staters more than a hundred varieties are
known.
Circ. B.C. 238-168.
| Head of Dione veiled (Fig. 179). |
ΑΜ, ΑΜΒΡΑ, etc. Obelisk bound with
taenia all in wreath. AR 63 grs.
|
| Heads of Dione, Apollo, Athena, etc. |
Similar. Æ .85
|
The obelisk represented on the coins of Ambracia is the sacred conical
stone (βαιτυλιον) of the Apollo ‘Aγυιευς of Ambracia (Preller, Gr. Myth., i.
p. 211).
There are also bronze coins with Acarnanian types:—Head of
Herakles or Achelous, rev. Apollo Aktios seated, or Crab or Rushing bull;
also with Aetolian or Epirote types:—
See also Imhoof MG, p. 137).
Athamanes.
On the fall of the kingdom of Epirus this tribe rose to
be independent and struck bronze coins.
Circ. B.C. 220-190.
For a coin of the Amphilochian Argos, bearing the name ΑΜΥΝΑΝΔΡΟΣ, who is perhaps identical with Amynander, king of the Athamanes,
see infra, p. 329, and Z. f. N., vii. 127.
Colonial and Imperial, Augustus—Tiberius, with Latin
inscriptions, C. I. BVT. or C. A. BVT. (Colonia Julia or Augusta Buthrotum) and names of Duumviri, with titles, II VIR EX D. D. IIVIIR
Q[uinquennalis], etc. For varieties, see Imhoof (Imhoof MG, p. 138, and
N. Z., xxxiii. 26).
Cassope.
Silver and bronze, with inscr. ΚΑΣΣΩΠΑΙΩΝ on obverse or
reverse.
Before B.C. 342.
B.C. 238-168.
This town also struck bronze coins in Roman times with the inscr.
ΚΑΣΣΩΓΙΑΙΩΝ ΜΟΛΟΣΣΩΝ (BMC Thessaly, p. 99).
Dodona(?).
See infra, p. 325.
Elea in Thesprotia.
The bronze coinage of this town belongs to the
time of Philip of Macedon (over whose coins some of the specimens are
restruck) before B.C. 342. As Leake remarks (Num Hell., p. 48), the
types relating to the infernal regions identify the district with the
Eleatis through which flowed the rivers Acheron and Cocytus.
Molossi.
The Molossians were the predominant people in Epirus before Alexander the son of Neoptolemus became king, B.C. 342. Concerning the celebrated breed of Molossian dogs, cf. Hor. Sat. ii. 6. 114. According to Nicander of Colophon (Pollux v. 5. 1) they were descended
from the famous brass dog made by Hephaestos.
Silver and bronze coins before B.C. 342.
Nicopolis.
This town was founded by Augustus after the battle of
Actium. Imperial coins from Augustus to Gallienus.
Types (BMC Thessaly, Pl. XIX) usually referring to the quinquennial
Actian games held at Nicopolis in honor of the Actian Apollo, and in
memory of the battle of Actium. Inscr., ΝΙΚΟΓΙΟΛΙC ΙΕΡΑ, ΝΙΚΟΓΙΟΛΕWC, ΙΕΡΑC ΝΙΚΟΓΙΟΛЄΩC, ΑΥΓΟΥCΤΟC ΚΤΙCΤΗC, CΕΒΑCΤΟΥ
ΚΤΙCΜΑ, ΝЄΙΚΟΠΟΛЄΩC ΙΕΡΑC ΝΑΥΑΡΧΙΔΟC, ΝΕΙΚΟΠΟΛΕΩC
ΙΕΡΑC ΑCΥΛΟΥ(?), Η ΠΡΟC ΑΚΤ, etc., ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟC CWΤΗΡ ΠΟΛΕWC
Rev. ΑΓΙΟΛΛWΝ ΛΕΥΚΑΤΗC (Imhoof MG, p. 141), also ΦΙΝΑΙΟC
accompanying the type of Asklepios standing. Games, ΑΚΤΙΑ, on
AR Quinarii of Ant. Pius and Faustina Sen. (BMC Thessaly, Pl. XIX. 8),
and on Æ of Hadrian (Hunter Cat., Pl. XXXI. 16). On some coins of
Nicopolis, Hadrian has the title ΓΙΑΝΕΛΛΗΝΙΟC.
Pandosia, on the river Acheron.
BRONZE. B.C. 238-168.
| Head of Dodonaean Zeus, and magistrate 's name. |
ΠΑΝ Fulmen in oak-wreath [B. M. C.,
Pl. XXXII. 9]. Æ .75
|
Phoenice was, according to Polybius (ii. 5. 8), the most important city in Epirus after the fall of the Molossian kingdom. It was probably
therefore the capital of the Epirote Republic, and the place of mintage
of the Federal currency (p. 324). In the same period it struck also
municipal coins of bronze.
B.C. 238-168.
Also Imperial of Claudius, Nero, and Trajan.
Kings of Epirus
Alexander, son of Neoptolemus, B.C. 342-326.
The gold coins of this king were probably struck in southern Italy, whither Alexander went in B.C. 332 to aid the Greek cities against the Lucanians and Bruttians. In style the remarkable gold stater in the British Museum differs curiously from the specimen in the Hunter Coll. and from the silver staters, and the weight of the latter, 165 grs. (that of the coins of Corcyra), may
possibly indicate an Epirote origin. On the whole, however, I am inclined to attribute all Alexander 's coins to the Locrian or possibly to the Syracusan mint. The skillful engravers and die-sinkers of Italy and
Sicily may well have been chosen to design and strike coins for various kings and for states where mints did not exist at all, or where the die-engravers were only capable of executing rough imitations of the
works of more practiced artists. Cf. J. H. S., 1907, p. 149. The ruder bronze money is undoubtedly Epirote.
Pyrrhus, B.C. 295-272.
Pyrrhus, like Alexander, struck coins in various parts of his dominions, chiefly in Italy and Sicily, but also in Macedon and perhaps in Epirus. All the gold coins and the silver pieces
of 90 grs. are of Syracusan fabric, as are also the finest of his bronze coins. His tetradrachms and didrachms of Attic weight appear to have been issued at Locri in Bruttium; his Macedonian bronze coins are distinguished by the Macedonian shield on the obverse; while his
Epirote (?) money bears the head of Zeus, and is of ruder fabric.
Inscr. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΥΡΡΟΥ, usually at full length except on the
Macedonian coins and on some of the Epirote (?) bronze pieces, where
the name appears in monogram.
The obv. of the gold stater is almost identical with that of the Aetolian
League (p. 334 infra). They are both probably by the same (possibly
Syracusan) engraver.
| Head of Dodonaean Zeus in oak-wreath. |
Dione with scepter, enthroned (Fig. 182).
AR Tetradr.
|
The veiled head with the inscr. ΦΘΙΑΣ is usually supposed to be a
portrait of Phthia, the mother of Pyrrhus. Some have, however, seen in
it an ideal personification of the district Phthia in Thessaly, whence
Pyrrhus traced the origin of his race.
To this king Imhoof (Imhoof MG, p. 459, Pl. J. 28) is inclined to
attribute a very beautiful Attic drachm in the Santangelo Museum
at Naples. Obv. Head of Herakles in lion-skin. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ
Dionysos in car drawn by panthers; symbol, fulmen.
Epirote Republic
Before B.C. 238.
B.C. 238-168.
| Heads jugate of Zeus Dodonaeos and
Dione. |
ΑΠΕΙΡΩΤΑΝ Pushing bull in oak wreath (Fig. 185).
|
| Head of Zeus Dodonaeos. [Brit. Mus. Guide, Pl. LV. 16; 17.] |
„ Eagle in oak-wreath.
AR Dr., 78-65 grs.
|
Heads of Zeus and Dione.
[BMC Thessaly, Pl. XVII. 8.] |
„ Fulmen in oak-wreath.
AR (= Victorious) 52-44 grs.
|
Head of Zeus Dodonaeos.
[BMC Thessaly, Pl. XVII. 9.] |
„ Id.
|
The types of the bronze coins for the most part resemble the silver.
They present, however, some varieties.
| Head of Dione veiled. |
ΑΠΕΙΡΩΤΑΝ Tripod in laurel-wreath
Æ .75
|
| Head of Herakles. |
„ Club in oak-wreath.
Æ .5
|
| Head of Artemis. [BMC Thessaly,
Pl. XVII. 12, 14, 15.] |
„ Spear-head. Æ .9-.65
|
After B.C. 168.
Although the Epirote coinage, as such, ceased when the country was
ruthlessly devastated by the Romans in B.C. 168, nevertheless there are
exceptional pieces which appear to have been issued at Dodona in the
name of a priest of the temple of Zeus Naios. These are of late style,
and are certainly subsequent to the fall of the Republic. They bear the
two names of ΑΡΓΕΑΔΗΣ and ΜΕΝΕΔΗΜΟΣ and the title ΙΕΡΕΥΣ.
To Dodona also, in Imperial times, Reinach (Congres arch. d 'Athènes,
1905) would attribute the following coin :—
| ΔΙΑ Bust of Zeus Dodonaeos (?). |
ΝΑΟΝ Fulmen [Rev. arch. 1905, p. 97].
Æ .6
|
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