[Imhoof-Blumer, Zur Münzkunde Boeotiens, in the Num. Zeit., iii. 1871 and ix. 1877.
B. V. Head, History of the Coinage of Boeotia, 1881. British Museum Catalog of Greek Coins, Central Greece, by B. V. Head, 1884.]
In Boeotia, as in Phocis, the commencement of the coinage may be
placed about the middle of the sixth century B.C. The most striking
characteristic of the money of Boeotia is that it is in great part a Federal
currency. The various Boeotian cities were from the first united in
an Amphictyonic confederation, as members of which they adopted a
common coin-type, which serves to distinguish the Boeotian currency
from that of all other Greek states. This type is the so-called Boeotian
buckler, a round or oval shield with semicircular openings at either side.
It is thought that this shield is properly a religious emblem, but to what
divinity it belongs we have no positive information. It may be that it
is the shield of Athena Itonia, whose temple, near Coroneia, was the
place where the Boeotians met to celebrate their periodical national
festivals (Paus. ix. 34 ες τον κοινον συνιασιν ενταυθα οι Βοιωτοι συλλογον);
or it may be that it is the shield of Ares, whose statue was the starting
344
point of the horse-races in the games held at the Pan-Boeotian festival
(Foucart, in Bull. Corr. Hell., 1885, pp. 427 sqq.).
That golden shields were preserved at Coroneia we gather from another
passage of Pausanias (i. 25. 7), where he relates that the Coroneians put
Lachares to death (B.C. 299) because he had taken away the golden
shields from the acropolis of their city, and stripped the image of Athena
of her ornaments.
The earliest Boeotian coins, alike in weight, fabric, and incusereverse,
are modelled on those of Aegina, and, in these respects, are easily to be
distinguished from the contemporary issues of the neighbouring island of
Euboea, or of Athens. The Aeginetic standard prevailed in Boeotia
down to the time of the restoration of Thebes by Cassander, B.C. 315,
after which there are tetradrachms of Attic weight, and thirds of the
tetradrachm, weighing about 80 grs., as in Aetolia.
Acraephia, on the eastern shore of lake Copais, is said by Pausanias
(ix. 23. 5) to have belonged in early times to Thebes. It must, however,
have enjoyed intervals of autonomy, both before and after the Persian
wars.
Chaeroneia was in B.C. 424 still subject to Orchomenus (Thuc. iv. 76. 3,
cf. Hellanicus, Fr. 49), but it appears to have obtained autonomy soon
afterwards at the hands of the Thebans, though there is no evidence that
it struck coins before the Peace of Antalcidas.
Circ. B.C. 387-374.
Boeotian shield.
[Prokesch, Ined., 1854, Pl. II. 49, 50.]
ΧΑΙ or ΧΑΙΡΩΝΕ Club.
AR ½ Dr. and Æ .7
Copae, on the edge of the lake Copais, not far from the katabothra
into which the Cephissus flows on emerging from the lake.
Circ. B.C. 387-374.
Boeotian shield.
[B. M. C., Cent. Gr., Pl. VII. 4.]
ΚΩΠΑΙΩΝ Forepart of rushing bull.
AR Obol.
Id. [Prokesch, Ined., 1854, Pl. II. 51.]
Κ Ω Bull’s head, facing.
Æ .45
The rushing bull may here symbolize the river-god Kephisos.
The gorgon-head on the coins of Coroneia is reminiscent of the worship of
Athena Itonia, whose temple stood in the vicinity of Coroneia, and was the
place where national Pan-Boeotian festivals were celebrated (Paus. ix.
34. 1). Cf. the story of Iodama, priestess of that goddess, to whom,
when one night she entered the sacred temenos, the goddess appeared
with the gorgoneion on her chiton, and straightway Iodama was transformed into stone. The custom of daily kindling fire upon the altar of
Iodama was still kept up when Pausanias visited Coroneia (Paus. l. c.).
Haliartus was destroyed by the Persians in B.C. 480. There are silver
coins earlier than that date, from the stater downwards, distinguished
by the aspirate (⊟), the initial letter of Haliartus, placed either in the
side-openings of the shield, or in the centre of the incuse on the reverse
(Num. Zeit., iii. 1871, Pl. IX. 1-2).
The town was subsequently restored, and issued staters, &c., in the
fifth century.
Boeotian shield.
[B. M. C., Cent. Gr., Pl. VII. 15.]
These pieces refer to the celebrated temple and grove of Poseidon
at Onchestus in the territory of Haliartus (Il. ii. 506), which was the
meeting-place of an Amphictyonic Council of the Boeotians, ‘Ογχηστος
δ’ εστιν οπου το ‘Αμφικτυονικον συνηγετο εν τη ‘Αλιαοτια * * * * εχων
Ποσειδωνος ιερον (Strab. ix. 2. 33). The statue of Poseidon was still
standing there in the time of Pausanias (ix. 26. 5). There is a forgery of
this coin reading ΑRΙΑRΤΙΟΝ (see Imhoof, Num. Zeit., iii. 1871, 340).
B.C. 338-315.
Boeotian shield. [B. M. C., Cent. Gr.,
Pl. VII. 17, and N. C., 1898, p. 288.]
Orchomenus or Erchomenus. In very early times the Minyan Orchomenus had been a member of the naval confederation of Calauria on the
Saronic Gulf, and the first city of Boeotia (E. Curtius, Hermes, x.
p. 385). This fact points to the existence of commercial relations
between Orchomenus and Aegina, and perhaps accounts for the introduction into Boeotia of a system of coinage modelled upon that of
Aegina. The early silver coins of Orchomenus differ from those of the
other Boeotian towns in that they are without the buckler characteristic
of the Boeotian Federal money. This type was not adopted at Orchomenus until the fourth century B.C.
Pharae, about four miles north-west of Tanagra, appears, from the
number of its coins which are still extant, to have ranked among
the most prosperous members of the Boeotian Confederacy during the
flourishing period before the Persian invasion.
Circ. B.C. 550-480.
Boeotian shield. [Ibid., Pl. IX. 1;
Babelon, Traité, No. 1350.]
in centre of incuse, or in centre of
star, contained in incuse square.
Plataea. The only known silver coins of Plataea belong to the period
between the Peace of Antalcidas, B.C. 387, when the city was restored by
the Spartans, and its second destruction by Thebes in B.C. 372.
Boeotian shield.
[B. M. C., Cent. Gr., Pl. IX. 3, 4.]
ΠΛΑ Head of Hera in profile or facing,
wearing stephanos.
Tanagraand federal Coinage. This city, which stood on the left
bank of the Asopus not far from the borders of Attica, was in importance
second only to Thebes among all the members of the Boeotian League.
From the inscr. ΒΟΙ on these coins we might infer that after the
humiliation of Thebes (circ. B.C. 479), Tanagra aspired for a time to the
leadership of the Boeotian Confederacy. This inference is, however,
considered as doubtful by Grenfell and Hunt (Oxyrhynchus Papyri, v.
p. 228).
Circ. B.C. 456-446 and 387-374.
Boeotian shield. [Babelon, Traité,
Pl. XLI. 28; B. M. C., Cent. Gr.,
Pl. X. 1-4.]
ΤΑΝΑ, ΤΑΝ, or ΤΑ Incuse square, or,
later, concave circle, in which forepart of springing horse.
Of the horse, as a Tanagraean coin-type, various interpretations have
been suggested. It may, as in Thessaly, be an emblem of Poseidon
Onchestios, the god of the Boeotian Amphictyony, or it may have a more
restricted and local signification, and symbolize the river Asopus which
is seen from Tanagra forcing its way through a rocky ravine from the
Parasopia into the Tanagraean plain, or again it may be the horse of the
sun-god Apollo, whose temple at Delium stood in the territory of Tanagra.
In this case it would express the same idea as the wheel, unless, indeed,
we adopt the theory that both horse and wheel are simply agonistic types
referring to horse and chariot races.
From Augustus to Commodus coins were struck at Tanagra, both with
and without the emperors’ heads (Num. Zeit., ix. pp. 30 sqq., and B. M. C.,
Cent. Gr., Pl. X. 11-16). Inscr. ΤΑΝΑΓΡΑΙWΝ. Types ΑCΩΠΟC Head
of the River. ΠΟΙΜΑΝΔΡΟC Bust of Poemandros the mythical founder.
The three Charites (?) draped; Hermes Kriophoros and Hermes Promachos, probably from the statues of that god (Paus. ix. 22); copy of
statue, under distyle portico, of Dionysos, by Kalamis, with vanquished
Triton beneath his feet. (Paus. ix. 20. 4; the myth is discussed by H. Bulle,
349
Ath. Mitth., 1897, 402); statue of Artemis or Demeter with two torches,
under distyle portico.
Thebesand Federal Coinage. The earliest coins of Thebes, circ. B.C.
600-550, are anepigraphic.
After the battle of Coroneia (B.C. 447), when the Boeotian League, upon
the expulsion of the Athenians, was reconstituted under her hegemony,
Thebes began to consolidate her authority throughout Boeotia and
monopolized the right of coining money. To this period belongs the
series of Theban staters bearing various types, mainly representations
of Herakles, walking with club and bow (Brit. Mus. Guide, Pl. XIII. 16);
kneeling or stooping, stringing his bow (Fig. 194, cf.Z. f. N., xxi. Pl. IV.
6); carrying off the Delphic tripod (Brit. Mus. Guide, Pl. XIII. 18); or
as an infant strangling serpents (B. M. C., Cent. Gr., Pl. XII. 7). To this
last mentioned type a special significance seems to have been attached,
for at a later date (circ. B.C. 394) we find it adopted as symbolical of the
struggle for emancipation of young and vigorous democracies against
the daemons of darkness, of freedom as against tyranny (cf. coins of an
350
anti-Spartan party at Various cities, notably Cnidus, Ephesus, Rhodes,
Iasus, Byzantium, Lampsacus, Cyzicus, and Croton). The usual inscription on the Theban coins of the period ranging from B.C. 446-426 is
ΘΕΒΑΙΟS. These coins possess great artistic merit, and recall in many
respects the style of the metopes of the Parthenon. The following
beautiful coin appears to be of the same time :—
Boeotian shield.
[Brit. Mus. Guide, Pl. XIII. 15.]
ΘΕΒΑ Incuse square, within which,
seated female figure holding helmet.
The figure on the reverse has been thought to represent Harmonia,
daughter of Ares and Aphrodite, and wife of the Theban Cadmus. But
it may be merely a personification of the eponymous nymph of the city
of Thebes.
Circ. B.C. 426-387.
FIG. 195.
FIG. 196.
The crossed form of the letter Θ (Θ) is no longer used in this period.
It should also be noted that on some of the hemidrachms the ethnic is
written ΘΕΒΗ[ΟΝ] instead of ΘΕΒΑΙΟΝ, the letter Η having been used
in the Boeotian dialect to represent the diphthong ΑΙ, shortly before the
introduction of the other letters of the Ionianalphabet. The principal
reverse types on the silver coins are heads of bearded Herakles in profile
(B. M. C., Cent. Gr., Pl. XIII. 1, 2), or facing (R. N., 1895, Pl. IV. 11), or
of bearded Dionysos crowned with ivy (Fig. 195); Amphora encircled by
an ivy-wreath richly decorating the entire field of the coin (Fig. 196);
Kantharos; or Infant Herakles strangling serpents (Fig. 197). For the
smaller denominations see Head, Coinage of Boeotia, p. 41. The Tritemorion has three half-shields on both sides, the Hemiobol one half-shield,
rev.Amphora, and the Tetartemorion a whole shield, rev.Kantharos.
FIG. 197.
Here also belong the rare pale gold coins of Thebes.
Head of bearded Dionysos.
[B. M. C., Cent. Gr., Pl. XIV. 1, 2.]
At the Peace of Antalcidas Thebes lost her ascendancy over the other
Boeotian cities, which now all began again to coin in their own names.
In 382 the Cadmeia was seized by the Spartans, and Thebes did not recover
her freedom until 379. It is doubtful whether any coins were struck at
Thebes in this period.
Circ. B.C. 379-338.
After the recovery of the Cadmeia by Pelopidas and his associates,
and under the able leadership of Epaminondas, Thebes obtained an
influence throughout Hellas, second to that of no other Greek state.
A new Federal Boeotian currency was put into circulation about this
time (B.C. 378) which from the number of known varieties must have
lasted down to the Macedonian conquest in B.C. 338. Historically this
coinage is extremely interesting. It appears to have been issued by the
authority of the central βουλη of the reconstituted Boeotian league,
which, doubtless, like the older league, consisted of eleven Boeotarchs
with their βουλευται representing the βουλαι of the separate Boeotian
communities. The meeting-place of this Federal βουλαε was the Cadmeia
of Thebes. It is improbable that the magistrates’ names on the coins of
this series are those of the successive eponymous Boeotarchs of the
league. They are rather those of members of a sub-committee, επιμελεια,
specially appointed to superintend the finances of the mint. The members
of this committee, probably in rotation, may have been officially responsible for the coins struck during their term of office. This federal coinage
superseded the issues of the separate members of the Boeotian league.
The types of the stater are as follows :—
Silver staters of this type are known with the names of the following
magistrates:—ΑΓΛΑ, ΑΜΦΙ, ΑΝΔΡ, ΑΝΤΙ, ΑΠΟΛ, ΑΡΚΑ, FΑΣΤ, ΑΣΩΠ,
ΒΟΙΩ, ΔΑΙΜ, ΔΑΜΟΚΛ, ΔΑΜΩ, ΔΙΟΓ, ΔΙΟΚ, ΔΙΩ, ΕΠΑΜΙ, ΕΠΠΑ,
FΕΡΓ, ΕΥFΑΡΑ, ΕΥΓΙ, Ε↓Ε, ΕΧΕ, ΘΕΟΓ, ΘΕΟΠ, ΗΙΚΕ, ΗΙΣΜΕ, ΚΑΒΙ,
ΚΑΛΙ, ΚΑΛΛΙ, ΚΛΕΕΣ, ΚΛΕΣ, ΚΛΙΩΝ, ΚΡΑΤ, ΛΥΚΙ, ΞΕΝΟ, ΟΛΥΜ,
ΟΝΑΣ, ΠΕΛΙ, ΠΘΟ or ΠΟΘ, ΠΟΛΥ, ΠΤΟΙ, ΤΙΜΙ, ΤΙΜΟ, ΦΙΔΟ or ΦΙΛΟ,
ΨΑRΟ, ΧΑΡ.
Several of these names may, as might be expected, be identified with
those of persons mentioned by historians or in inscriptions, such as
Ismenias and Androkleidas, the well-known leaders of the Atticizing
party at Thebes, together with their followers Amphithemis or Amphi
352
theos (cf. Paus. iii. 9, 8; Plut. Lys. 27), and Antitheos (Oxyrhynchus
Papyri v., Theopomp. xii. 34). The names of the famous Epaminondas
(Boeotarch, 371, 370, 369, 367, and 362 B.C.), of Damokleidas and of
Theopompos, friends of Pelopidas (Plut. Pelop. 7, 8; Diod. xv. 78), and
of Charopinos (C. I. G., 1575), Boeotarch, may also be recognized, together
with others, such as the statesman Euares (B. C. H., 1896, 551, and 1898,
577), and Astias, a member of the pro-Spartan party (Oxyrhynchus Papyri
v., Theopomp. xii. 13), Asopodoros, Diogiton, &c. (Hill, Hist. Gr. C., p. 71).
The fact that the name of Pelopidas, continuously Boeotarch from 387-364 B.C., is not met with is in favour of the theory that the eponymous
Boeotarchs were not ex officio members of the sub-committee entrusted
with the supervision of the federal mint.
Small silver and bronze coins also occur with some of the same
magistrates’ names :—
Boeotian shield.
[B. M. C., Cent. Gr., Pl. XV. 10.]
Head of young Herakles with names
ΕΠ, ΘΕ, ΙΣ, ΚΛΕ, ΚΟ, &c.
Club, often with arrow, bow, thyrsos,
grapes or caduceus, and magistrates’
names, which are frequently identical
with those on the silver coins. (For
list of these names see Head, Coinage
of Boeotia, p. 70).
Æ .5
Circ. B.C. 338-315.
After the disastrous battle of Chaeroneia a Macedonian garrison was
placed in the Cadmeia, and three years afterwards Thebes was destroyed
by Alexander. The Federal mint must have been at this time transferred
to some other Boeotian city, perhaps Orchomenus. The coins now bear
no magistrates’ names :—
Boeotian shield.
[B. M. C., Cent. Gr., Pl. V. 14.]
Thebes was rebuilt by Cassander after having lain in ruins for twenty
years. Both he and his successor Demetrius appear to have struck
money at Thebes with the types and name of Alexander the Great,
distinguished by the presence of the Boeotian shield as an adjunct
symbol on the reverse (Müller, Nos. 751-756). There are also small
bronze coins, which seem to belong to this time.
Boeotian shield.
[B. M. C., Cent. Gr., Pl. XVI. 1, 2.]
„ Trident.
Æ .4
Circ. B.C. 288-244.
In B.C. 288, Demetrius, who had now fallen from the height of his
power, presented Thebes with her freedom, hoping perhaps thereby to
353
attach Boeotia to his cause. From this time until B.C. 244 Boeotia was
independent of Macedon. The coins which on grounds of style may be
assigned to this half-century bear the inscription ΒΟΙΩΤΩΝ, but were
without doubt struck at Thebes.
FIG. 199.
Head of Poseidon (?) crowned with
wreath (Fig. 199).
ΒΟΙΩΤΩΝ Poseidon holding dolphin
and trident, seated on throne, on the
side of which is a Boeotian shield.
AR Attic tetradr.
Head of Athena in Corinthian helmet.
[B. M. C., Cent. Gr., Pl. VI. 2.]
In B.C. 244 Boeotia was once more compelled to place herself under
the protection of Macedon as a defence against the marauding Aetolians.
During the reigns of Antigonus Gonatas, Demetrius II, and Antigonus
Doson, B.C. 244-221, it is probable that only Macedonian coins were
current in Boeotia, but with the accession of Philip V a larger measure
of autonomy was accorded to the Boeotians. The Boeotian bronze coins
struck after this date are as a rule restruck on money of Antigonus
Doson. The silver coins, which closely resemble the bronze, are
drachms (?) weighing about 80 grs. of the standard in use in Aetolia.
ΒΟΙΩΤΩΝ Poseidon standing resting
on trident, and holding dolphin.
AR 80 grs.
Id. [B. M. C., Cent. Gr., Pl. VI. 8.]
ΒΟΙΩΤΩΝ Poseidon standing, resting
one foot on rock.
Æ .8
Circ. B.C. 197-146.
In this period Boeotia, like the rest of Greece, was permitted by the
Romans to retain its autonomy, but financial disorganization prevailed
throughout the land to such an extent that the state actually issued
bronze money in the place of silver, identical with the silver both in
size and types, and perhaps nominally equivalent to it (B. V. Head,
Coinage of Boeotia, p. 91).
Head of Poseidon laureate.
[Brit. Mus. Guide, Pl. LV. 22.]
ΒΟΙΩΤΩΝ Nike standing holding
trident and wreath, various monograms.
AR 80 grs., Æ .7
354
Circ. B.C. 146-27.
It is probable that in this period small bronze coins were struck at
Thebes and some other Boeotian towns.
Boeotian shield.
[B. V. Head, Coinage of Boeotia, p. 94.]
Under the Emperors Galba, and perhaps Trajan, Thebes issued bronze
coins bearing magistrates’ names preceded by ΕΠΙ and their titles,
Archiereus, or Polemarch (Head, Coinage of Boeotia, p. 95).
Thespiae. Of this town there are no archaic coins. Its earliest issues
fall into the period between B.C. 387 and 376-4, when, after the Peace of
Antalcidas, Thespiae had become one of the strongholds of the Spartans
in Boeotia. The Thespian coins are epigraphically very instructive, as
they indicate the precise epoch of the introduction of Σ in place of the
older S into Boeotia. Mythologically also the coins of Thespiae are of
value, as they prove that in addition to Eros, who was the god especially
revered at that city, Aphrodite Melainis (Paus. ix. 27) was there worshipped as a Moon-goddess. The crescent, the constant mint-mark of
Thespian money, is the symbol of this goddess.
From the date of the restoration of Thebes (B.C. 315) there is another
interval in the coinage of Thespiae, and it does not begin again until
after B.C. 146, when the Romans appear to have restored to many Greek
cities the right of coining bronze (cf. Paus. vii. 16. 7).
355
B.C. 146-27.
Female head, wearing stephanos and
veil.
ΘΕΣΠΙΕΩΝ Lyre in wreath [B. M. C.,
Cent. Gr., Pl. XVI. 12, 13].
Æ .6-.45
Head of Athena. [Sest., Mus. Font., ii.
Pl. IV. 17.]
Imperial coins are known of the Emperor Domitian only. The usual
type is Apollo Kitharoedos, standing, or seated, or a female figure,
Tyche (?), standing. (B. M. C., Cent. Gr., Pl. XVI. 14-16.)