The history of the coinage of the Peloponnesus, regarded as a whole,
may be summed up in a few words. From the age of Pheidon of Argos
down to the Persian wars the only coins generally current in Pelopon-
nesus were on the north coast the Corinthian Pegasos staters, elsewhere
the staters of Aegina. In the interior the Arcadian triobols served the
purpose of small change. The Aeginetic standard continued to be
everywhere prevalent in Peloponnesus.
408
The splendid and varied series of Elis does not begin before the close
of the period of archaic art (circ. B.C. 471). Between the Persian and
Peloponnesian wars we note an increase in the number of Arcadian
mints, Cleitor, Heraea, Mantineia, Pallantium, Paroreia, and Psophis all
issuing small silver coins in addition to the money of the Arcadian
League. In the next period, B.C. 430-370, the Arcadian Federal money
is entirely superseded by the local issues of the various Arcadian cities.
The place occupied of old by the Aeginetic stater is now filled by the
beautiful staters of Elis, Sicyon, and Argos.
With the restoration of Messene and the renewal, under Theban
auspices of the Arcadian Confederation, B.C. 370, Messene and Megalo-
polis were added to the now considerable number of Peloponnesian mints.
After B.C. 322, when Peloponnesus had for the most part fallen under
Macedonian dominion, the greater number of the Peloponnesian towns
ceased to strike silver in their own names, and between B.C. 280 and
146 the Federal coinage of the Achaean League became little by little
the chief currency in Peloponnesus, the types and style of which the
few mints which held aloof from the League tended more and more to
imitate.
With the constitution of the Roman Province in B.C. 146, all silver
money (except perhaps at Patrae) was put an end to. Bronze coins
continued, however, to be issued at many towns. As a rule the Imperial
coinage is confined to the time of Sept. Severus and his family.
Phlius, in N.E. Peloponnesus, was situated at a point commanding
three narrow valleys through which flowed the tributary head-streams of
the R. Asopus. At the junction of these valleys was a fortified summit,
Τρικαρανον. The following staters of Euboïc weight, formerly assigned
to Phaselis in Lycia (Hist. Num., 1st ed., p. 579), are attributed by
J. P. Six (Num. Chron., 1888, p. 97) to Phlius. The triskeles, he thinks,
is an indication of the geographical conformation of the territory of
the city.
The incuse on the reverse is of the early Aeginetic rather than of the
Euboïc pattern, and the fact that all the later coins of Phlius are of Aeginetic
weight is sufficient to show that the commercial relations of Phlius were
more intimate with Aegina than with Athens or Euboea. Cf. the stater
of Aegina (?) with the Phliasian (?) triskeles on the reverse (see Aegina,p. 397). The next series of Phliasian coins dates from the latter part of
the fifth century B.C.
Circ. B.C. 430-322.
Bull with head lowered (tauriform
Dionysos, or river-god Asopos). In
exergue ΦΛΕΙΛ (sometimes retrogr.).
ΣΙΟΝ (end of obv.inscr.) in the four
corners of an incuse square, within
which a wheel.
AR Drachm.
409
In the centre of the wheel there is usually a pellet enclosed in a circle,
which may symbolize the omphalos, a sacred stone at Phlius, which the
inhabitants, with unaccountable ignorance of distances, affirmed to be the
centre of Peloponnesus (Paus. ii. 13, 3).
The hemidrachms and smaller coins are uninscribed, but bear on the
reverse a large Φ instead of the wheel, sometimes accompanied by
pellets or bunches of grapes.
The types of the Phliasian coins remained unchanged down to the time
of the Macedonian conquest, circ. B.C. 322, except that on the latest class
the Φ on the reverse is encircled with an ivy-wreath. After B.C. 322
the coinage of Phlius comes to an end.
The bronze coins of the fourth century for the most part resemble the
silver, but on some specimens the bull on the obverse is replaced by
a head of Athena or of Zeus. See also Achaean League.
[Annali di Corrispondenza archeologica, 1830, p. 336; B. M. C., Pelop.; Lambros, Pelop., 34 ff.;
Babelon, Traité, pp. 816 ff.]
Sicyon, during the period of its greatest prosperity, consisted of an
acropolis about two miles from the Corinthian Gulf, a lower town at its
foot, and a port-town. The large number of its coins still extant
sufficiently attests the ancient wealth and commercial importance of
the city. It does not appear to have struck many coins before the
Persian wars, nor indeed does its money become plentiful much before
B.C. 400, but from this time down to the Roman conquest (B.C. 146) the
Sicyonian mint would seem to have been the most prolific in the whole
of Peloponnesus.
The two following gold coins (wt. c. 47 grs.), if they are genuine,
which is very doubtful, must be assigned to this period :—
Σ Ι Head of Apollo r. laur.
[Z. f. N. xvii. Pl. I. 5.]
Dove flying; beneath, minute dolphin:
the whole in laurel-wreath.
AV ½ Drachm.
Same die. [Paris, Ibid., p. 5.]
Dove flying with taenia in beak: the
whole in laurel-wreath.
AV ½ Drachm.
BRONZE. Circ. B.C. 323-251.
The bronze coins of Sicyon are numerous. Some of them certainly
belong to the latter part of the fourth century and to the first half of
the third century B.C. Weil (Z. f. N., vii. 376) would attribute them
to an earlier period, because some of them bear on the reverse the
letters ΕΥ which he believes to stand for Euphron, one of the tyrants of
Sicyon, shortly after B.C. 368.
Naked Apollo holding up a long fillet,
which falls behind his back; in field,
dove. [Imhoof, Num. Zeit., 1884.]
ΣΙ in wreath.
Æ .65
Dove flying.
Tripod in wreath.
Æ .65
Id.
Σ in wreath.
Æ .55
Head of Apollo.
Σ in wreath.
Æ .75
Dove flying.
Magistrates’ names, ΕΥ, ΔΗ, ΘΕΥ, ΚΛΕ,
ΜΕ, ΤΕ, within a wreath.
Æ .65
ΣΙ Dove feeding.
ΣΙ Tripod in wreath.
Æ .7
411
After the close of the Lamian war, B.C. 322, Sicyon passed for a time
into the hands of the Macedonians, under whose rule tetradrachms were
struck there, with the name and types of Alexander the Great (B.C.
316-308), (Müller, Mon. d'Alex., Nos. 864-898). A large number of such
tetradrachms was discovered near Patrae in 1850 (C. T. Newton, Num.
Chron., 1853, p. 29). Some of the accessory symbols on these coins,
such as Apollo holding a fillet behind his back, and the Chimaera,
are undoubtedly Sicyonian. The whole class is distinguished by its
peculiar fabric. The majority of the specimens have the throne of Zeus
surmounted by two small figures of Nike.
Circ. B.C. 251-146.
Later in style than these Alexandrine tetradrachms are the following
series of Aeginetic triobols (or Attic tetrobols) and bronze :—
Flying dove.
Large Σ surrounded by magistrate's
name: all in shallow incuse square.
AR Triobol.
Among the magistrates’ names the following occur:—ΑΙΝΕΙΑΣ,
ΑΛΕΞΙΩΝ, ΑΜΕΙΝΙΑΣ, ΑΝΔΡΩΝΙΔΑΣ, ΘΡΑΣΥΚΛΗΣ, ΚΛΕΑΝΔΡΟΣ,
ΛΥΔΙΑΔΑΣ, ΞΕΝΟΤΙΜΟΣ, ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΔΑΣ, ΠΟΛΥΚΡΑΤΗΣ, ΠΡΟ-
ΜΑΧΙΔΑΣ, ΣΩΣΙΚΡΑΤΗΣ.
Flying dove and one of the above names.
ΣΙ in wreath.
Æ .65
Dove feeding, ΑΝΔΡΟΣΜΟΣ.
ΣΙ Tripod in wreath.
Æ .7
Head of Apollo.
ΣΙ Dove flying, carrying fillet, and
magistrate’s name.
Æ .75
From the late style of these coins it seems certain that they are auto-
nomous issues struck for local use after B.C. 251, in which year Sicyon
joined the Achaean League. They are consequently contemporary with
her silver and bronze money of the Federal types. See p. 417.
Concerning the coins of Sicyon, Leake remarks (Num Hell., p. 95)
that ‘the change from ΣΕΚΥΩΝ or ΣΕΙΚΥΩΝ to ΣΙΚΥΩΝ occurred
about the time of Alexander the Great. The bird is probably the rock
pigeon, great numbers of which still inhabit the cliffs that surround the
ancient site. They were perhaps sacred to Apollo or Aphrodite, whose
temple was one of the principal edifices of Sicyon, and in which there
was a seated statue of the goddess by Canachus (Paus. ii. 10).’
The Σ, which so frequently occurs as a coin type, was the device of
the city, and was placed by the Sicyonians on their shields (Xen. Hell.
iv. 4). The use of the initial letter as a blazon was common in the
Peloponnesus. Cf. on coins, Argos, Heraea, Epidaurus, Cleonae, &c.,
and for shields, Lacedaemon and Messene.
Imperial coins exist from Nero to Geta. Inscr., CΙΚΥΩΝΙΩΝ.
Types, various; the most remarkable is a representation of a tomb (cf.
Paus. ii. 7, 2). The coin shows a small distyle temple on a rock, flanked
by two tall terminal figures, and by two cypress trees. Another coin has
for type a Maenad in attitude of frenzy, holding a sword and a bunch of
grapes, perhaps one of the Maenads in the temple of Dionysos at Sicyon
mentioned by Pausanias (ii. 7. 5). Another very frequent type is a
412
naked Apollo with hands raised, holding a long fillet. There also occur
on Imperial coins of Sicyon figures of Aphrodite and Eros, of Dionysos,
of Pan, of Artemis Pheraea (Paus. ii. 10. 7), of Demeter, of TycheΑκραια
(Paus. ii. 7. 5), of Apollo Kitharoedos (Z. f. N., xxiv. p. 60), &c.
Aegae was one of the most ancient cities in Peloponnesus. Its coins,
the oldest of which must be as early as B.C. 500, are triobols of the
Aeginetic standard. The goat is clearly a type parlant, as at Aegae
in Macedon, Aegeira, Aegospotami, &c. The town gradually fell into
decay, and was destroyed circ. B.C. 370, when its coinage ceased. For
illustrations see Zeit. f. Num., v. Pl. I; B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. IV; and
Babelon, Traité, Pl. XXXVII. Cf. Imhoof, Mon. gr., p. 157, who, how-
ever, attributes the coins to Aegium.
ΑΙΟΝ Head of bearded Dionysos ivy-
crowned, in incuse square.
AR Triobol.
ΑΙC Similar.
ΑΙCΑΙΟΝ Similar.
AR Triobol.
Circ. B.C. 480-370.
ΑΙC Similar.
ΑΙCΑΙΟΝ or ΑΙΓΑΙΑ Similar head
of fine style.
AR Triobol.
Head of young Dionysos, ivy-crowned.
ΑΙCΑΙΟΝ Goat standing.
AR Obol.
Aegeira. To this town, which stood between Aegae and Pellene, the
inhabitants of the former place removed when it fell into decay (B. M. C.,
Pelop., Pl. IV. 7-11).
Imperial, Severus, Domna, Geta, and Plautilla. Inscr., ΑΙΓЄΙΡΑΤΩΝ,
rarely ΑΙΓΙΡΑΤΩΝ. Types, Zeus seated; Nike; Artemis huntress. (Cf.
Paus. vii. 26. 2.)
Aegium, the chief political and religious centre of Achaia, and the
meeting-place of the delegates of the various cities which composed the
League. With the exception of the federal money (p. 417), bronze coins
only are known, unless the silver coins described under Aegae belong,
as Imhoof thinks (Mon. gr., p. 157), to this town.
Also of Imperial times, without or with heads of Emperors, Hadrian
to Geta. Inscr., ΑΙΓΙЄΩΝ. Types numerous. (See Imhoof and Gardner,
Paus., Pl. R.) Among those of interest are the following:—ΖЄΥC ΠΑΙC,
the boy Zeus as above, copied from the archaic statue of Zeus as a boy
at Aegium by Ageladas (Paus. vii. 24. 4; N. C., 1902, Pl. XV. 13).
Asklepios seated before altar, round which a serpent coils, in ex. ΑC·Γ
(= 3 Assaria) M. Aurelius. Another coin of M. Aurelius, also with ΑC·Γ,
has on the reverse the archaic temple of Eileithyia with two long torches
standing in front of it (Paus. vii. 23. 5). The following smaller coins
are half obols in bronze :—
ΗΜΙΟΒЄΛΙΝ Head of Zeus.
ΑΙΓΙЄΩΝ River-god (Selinos).
Æ .8
ΑΙΓΙЄΩΝ Head of Zeus.
ΗΜΙΟΒЄΛΙΝ Boy Zeus hurling ful-
men.
Æ .9
ΑΙΓΙЄΩΝ Head of Zeus.
ΗΜΙΟΒЄΛΙΝ Nymph Phthia with in-
flated veil, following a dove, which
looks back at her.
Æ .85
The type of this coin alludes to a local myth, which told how Zeus in
the form of a dove seduced the nymph Phthia (Athenaeus, ix. p. 395;
Aelian, Var. Hist., i. 15). ΗΜΙΟΒЄΛΙΝ is a variant of ημιωβολιον
(J. H. S., 1897, p. 83).
ΑΙΓΙЄΩΝ Head of Zeus.
[Imhoof and Gardner, Paus.,
Pl. R. 14.]
ΗΜΙΟΒЄΛΙΝ Infant Zeus suckled by
goat between two trees; the goat
looks up at an eagle.
Æ .7
This type is explained by Strabo viii. p. 387 ιστορουσι δ ενταυθα και
τον Δια υπ αιγος τραφηναι καθαπερ φησι και Αρατος.
Bura, destroyed by an earthquake B.C. 373, but subsequently rebuilt,
joined the Achaean League B.C. 275, but none of its federal coins
have as yet been found. Imperial, of Severus and his family. Inscr.,
ΒΟΥΡΑЄWΝ and ΒΟΥΡЄΑΤWΝ. Types:Herakles holding club, perhaps
a copy of the statue of HeraklesΒουραικος in the oracular cavern, sacred
to Herakles, between Bura and the Corinthian Gulf. Temple on hill, at
foot of which a portico containing a statue of Herakles (?) (Paus. vii. 25).
Eileithyia facing, holding torch. Demeter seated facing, &c. (Hunter
Cat., Pl. XXXVII. 22).
Dyme, the most western city of Achaia, bordering upon Elis, struck
small silver and bronze coins circ. B.C. 350 (Zeit. f. Num., vii. 366).
Inscr., ΔΥ or ΔΥΜΑ.
For other varieties, and for coins struck at Dyme as a Roman colony,
reading C. I. D. or C. I. A. DVM. (ColoniaJulia Augusta Dumaeorum),
J. Caesar to Tiberius, sometimes with names of the Duumviri quin-
quennales followed by the formula EX. D. D. (ex decreto decurionum),
see Imhoof, Mon. gr., p. 162 sqq.
Helice, the most ancient of all the cities of Achaia, was totally
destroyed in the earthquake of B.C. 373, when its territory was in-
corporated with that of Aegium. The following bronze coin can hardly
have been struck long before the destruction of the city.
Circ. B.C. 373.
ΕΛΙΚ (retrog.) Head of Poseidon dia-
demed within a circle of waves.
Trident between dolphins, in wreath
(Z. f. N., vii. Pl. VIII. 6).
Æ .7
At this city was a famous temple of Poseidon, called Helikonios, to
whose anger the destruction of the town was attributed (Num. Chron.,
1861, p. 216).
Patrae, originally known under the name of Aroë, was a port on
the Corinthian Gulf between Aegium and Dyme. As a member of the
Achaean League from B.C. 280 it issued silver coins (p. 417), but
apparently none of bronze.
Same mon. Poseidon wielding trident
(cf. Paus. vii. 21).
Æ .85-.75
Owl; magistrate, ΔΑΜΑCΙΑC.
Trident, between Π Α.
Æ .55
It was at Patrae that M. Antonius passed the winter before the battle
of Actium, B.C. 32-31, and it must have been on this occasion that coins
were struck at Patrae with the portrait of Cleopatra, rev. Head-dress of
Isis. After the battle of Actium, Augustus established a colony at
Patrae, which continued to strike money until the time of Gordian III,
Inscr. C. A. A. Ρ. (ColoniaAugusta Aroë Patrensis). Among the remark-
able types are copies of the statue of Artemis Laphria, with her dog
beside her, by Menaechmus and Soidas, in the temple of that goddess at
Patrae. This statue was transported to Patrae by Augustus from
Aetolia. Pausanias (vii. 18. 6) thus describes it, σχημα του αγαλματος
θηρευουσα εστιν ελεφαντος δε και χρυσου πεποιηται. A coin of Nero shows
the hound, bow, and quiver of the goddess, with the inscr. DEANAI
AVGVSTAI (Imhoof, in Rev. Suisse, xiv. Pl. VI. 15).
In honour of this goddess a splendid festival was celebrated at Patrae,
in which, as Pausanias tells us, the priestess of the goddess, a maiden
drawn in a biga of stags, closed the festal procession. This type occurs
on coins of M. Aurelius. Another statue mentioned by Pausanias (vii.
20. 5), which is copied on coins of Commodus, is that of Asklepios.
Other types show Hermes seated on a rock, with a ram before him,
perhaps copied from a statue at Corinth (Paus. ii. 3. 4). The following
topographical type is also worthy of remark:— Plan of the town and
harbour of Patrae; above, three temples; below, a statue on a pedestal.
This type is varied on coins of Gordian, where we see a colossal statue
in the centre of the harbour, galleys within the port, and several small
buildings over it.
Pellene, the most eastern town in Achaia, struck silver and bronze
coins in the latter half of the fourth century.
Apollo Theoxenios was the god chiefly worshipped at Pellene, εστι και
Απολλωνος Θεοξενιου Πελληνευσιν ιερον το δε αγαλμα χαλκου πεποιηται
(Paus. vii. 27).
Pellene became a member of the Achaean League about B.C. 274
(see p. 417).
On the Imperial coins (Severus and family), inscr. ΠΕΛΛΗΝЄΩΝ, are
figures of Dionysos Lampter (Paus. l. c.), standing naked with kantharos
416
and thyrsos; of Apollo with bow; and of Artemis with torch and bow
(Paus. l. c.): πλησιον δε του Απολλωνος ναος εστιν Αρτεμιδος, τοξευουσης δε
η θεος παρεχεται σχημα.
[Leicester Warren, Greek Federal Coinage, London, 1863; Lambros, P., Zeitschrift für Numis-
matik, 1875, p. 160; Weil, R., Zeit. f. Num., 1882, p. 199; Clerk, M. G., Coins of the
Achaean League, 1895.]
The earliest Federal coinage of the Achaeans, if the following attribu-
tion is correct (N. C., 1902, 324), shows that after the battle of Leuctra,
B.C. 371, the Achaean Communes, like those of Arcadia, combined to
strike money in the common name of the entire people, and, moreover,
that one of the hemidrachms of this first federal coinage, obv. Head of
Zeus, rev. (the monogram of the Achaeans), was the prototype of the
well-known coinage of the famous League, as it was reconstituted after
the lapse of nearly a whole century, circ. B.C. 280. The coins of the
earlier League are the following :—
B.C. 370-360.
Head of Artemis Laphria (?) with neck-
lace and earring of three pendants,
her hair gathered up and tied in
a knot on the top of her head.
[N. C., 1902, Pl. XVI. 4.]
ΑΧΑΙΩΝ (each letter separately punched)
Zeus Amarios or Aphesios enthroned,
three quarters towards l.; from his
extended r. hand an eagle takes flight;
his l. rests on sceptre. Symbol in
field, crested helmet.
The head of Artemis on the above-described beautiful stater is
apparently Peloponnesian in style (cf. the contemporary staters of
Stymphalus), and the reversetype of Zeus seems to have been suggested
by the seated Zeus on the early Arcadian coins. The attribution of
these coins to the Achaeans of Phthiotis, proposed by Gardner (B. M. C.,
Thes., xxix), is therefore open to grave doubt.
Circ. B.C. 280-146.
It was not, however, until the reorganization of the League in B.C. 280,
when Patrae and Dyme succeeded in throwing off the yoke of the Mace-
donians, that the plentiful coinage, which for about 130 years formed the
staple of the currency of Peloponnesus, regularly commenced. Gradually,
as town after town was brought within the political union, the circle
of federal mints went on widening, each town on its admission to the
League agreeing to adopt a uniform coinage, not only in silver, but also
417
in bronze; for identity of laws, weights, measures, and coinage was, as
Polybius (ii. 37) informs us, imposed by the central authorities upon all
the members of the Confederation: οστε μη μονον συμμαχικην και φιλικην
κοινωνιαν γεγονεναι πραγματων περι αυτους, αλλα και νομοις χρησθαι τοις αυτοις
και σταθμοις και μετροις και νομισμασι, κ.τ.λ.
The types of the federal silver coin were as follows :—
FIG. 223.
Head of Zeus Amarios (Fig. 223).
The Achaean monogram; around which
various letters, monograms, local sym-
bols, names of magistrates or of cities,
usually abbreviated; all within wreath
of bay.
AR 40-32 grs.
It is upon these symbols, &c., that the classification to particular
cities is with more or less probability based.
The bronze coinage is historically much more important than the
silver, since it offers the name of each city in full, preceded by the name
of the Achaeans collectively, e. g. ΑΧΑΙΩΝ ΚΟΡΙΝΘΙΩΝ, &c. Types as
follows :—
Full length figure of Zeus Amarios
holding Nike and leaning on sceptre.
Demeter Panachaia (?) seated, holding
wreath and resting on sceptre.
Æ .85-.65
On one side is the name Of the city, on the other a local magistrate's
name, nearly always at full length.
Zeus Amarios (Strab. 385), called Homagyrios by Pausanias, and
Demeter Panachaia were the protecting divinities of the League. Their
temples stood side by side at Aegium, where the central assembly held
its meetings, εφεξης δε τω Ομαγυριω Διι Παναχαιας εστι Δημητρος (Paus.
vii. 24. 2).
The towns which took part in this federal currency were about forty-
three in number. The probable date B.C. of admission to the League is
added wherever I have been able to ascertain it.
The only Imperial coins of the Roman Province of Achaia which call
for special notice are the following, which belong rather to the class of
dedicatory medallions than to the ordinary currency, although it is
possible that they also circulated as money. It was no unusual thing
for wealthy individuals to undertake, on behalf of their native cities, the
entire expenses of religious festivals, games, dedications of temples, or
other solemnities, in return for municipal honours of various kinds. The
sums paid into the local exchequer by such public benefactors, when
issued in the form of coin, frequently bore the name of the donor in the
nominative case, together with his honorary title and the verb ανεθηκε,
followed by the name of the city or province in the dative or genitive.
Such dedicatory pieces are not uncommon in Asia Minor, but in
Europe they are very rarely met with.
The following examples were struck at Corinth by Hostilius Marcellus,
the priest of the cultus of the deified Antinoüs, and by him dedicated
to the Achaeans and Corinthians :—
ΟCΤΙΛΙΟC ΜΑΡΚЄΛΛΟC Ο ΙЄΡЄΥC ΤΟΥ ΑΝΤΙΝΟΟΥ Bust of
Antinoüs.
Rev., ΤΟΙC ΑΧΑΙΟΙC ΑΝЄΘΗΚЄΝ Antinoüs as Hermes leaning on
terminal figure, or as Bellerophon taming Pegasos (Mion., ii. 160.
97, 98).
[Gardner, P., N. C., 1879, 221; B. M. C., Pelop.; Wroth, N. C., 1892, 11; Bibliogr., N. C.,
1898, 328; 1899, 254; 1900, 365; Z. f. N., vii. 110; xix. 204; xxi. 209; B. C. H.,
iv. 43, and Kekule, Bonner Stud., 1890, 40; Babelon, Traité, pp. 879 sqq.]
The beautiful silver coins of Elis, of the Aeginetic standard, form a
series which, for the variety of treatment and the high artistic ability
which it displays, is excelled by no other class of coins in European Greece.
There are no coins of Elis which apparently belong to the period of
archaic art before the Persian wars, for the Eleians down to B.C. 471
were not collected into a single city (Diod. xi. 154); Babelon, however
420
(Traité, p. 899), sees in this fact no reason why coins should not have
been struck in their name at an earlier date. From about B.C. 471 until
Elis became dependent upon Macedon after the Lamian war, B.C. 322, the
silver staters of Elis form an almost unbroken series. On the earliest
specimens the reversetype is in an incusecircle (Figs. 224, 225).
Towards the middle of the fifth century a square takes the place of the
circle, but not for long, for the circular incuse is reverted to before B.C.
421, and gradually fades off into a slightly concave field during the
fourth century.
The inscriptions are FΑ, FΑΛΕΟΝ or FΑΛΕΙΟΝ variously abbreviated,
and in one instance ΟΛVΝΠΙΚΟΝ, clearly indicating an intimate con-
nexion between the coinage and the Olympic games. Babelon (Traité,
p. 887) would date the last-mentioned coin as early as, if not earlier
than, B.C. 500.
The whole land of Elis was sacred to the Olympian Zeus, and the
symbols of this god, the Thunderbolt, and the Eagle with a tortoise,
a serpent, a hare, or other animal in his claws, the well-known omen of
victory sent by Zeus, Διος τερας αιγιοχοιο (Il. xii. 211), form the constant
FIGS. 226, 227.
types of the coins of Elis from about B.C. 471-421 (Figs. 226, 227).
Other varieties in this period exhibit Nike in various attitudes, running
to crown a victor in the games, standing with the sacred fillet in her
hand, or seated on a basis, with spread wings and holding palm, fillet,
or wreath in her hand. This type is one of the finest compositions in
FIG. 228.
Greek numismatic art (Fig. 228). The types of the obverses and the
fabric of the pieces connect them with the series ending circ. B.C. 421.
To this period of transition from archaic to finest art I am inclined to
think should also be assigned the rare coins bearing the figure of the
Olympian Zeus standing wielding his thunderbolt and holding on his
outstretched arm his eagle, inscr.ΟΛVΝΠΙΚΟΝ (Lambros, Pl. V. 5;
Z. f. N., xix. 204 ff), or seated with eagle and sceptre (Lambros, No. 6).
Various highly decorative and fanciful designs of thunderbolts (Fig. 227)
can be proved also to be contemporary with the types above-mentioned,
421
by the fact that they are frequently combined with the same obverse
dies (N. C., 1892, 12).
The later series of the period, ending about B.C. 421, are as follows :—
Round convex shield on which is an
eagle with closed wings, clutching a
serpent or a ram, with beak and claws.
[B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XI. 11, 12.]
F Α (one or both letters frequently in-
cuse) Fulmen, sometimes with furled
wings, or wingless and flaming at one
end, the whole within the concave
side of the shield which is conspicu-
ous on the obverse; the rim and
inside handles of the shield are some-
times indicated.
The fabric of the coins of this series is peculiar. The flans, before
striking, were evidently cast together in a mould consisting of a number
of circular chambers connected by a passage for the silver to run through
from one to another.
Eagle with closed wings, tearing a hare.
[B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XI. 9.]
F Α Fulmen with wings at one end
and volutes at the other; the whole
in wreath of olive.
On the drachm the Eagle’s head is sometimes accompanied by a Lizard
(cf. Frazer, Paus., iv. 5). The smallest divisions of this series have the
simple mark of value Τ (= Tetartemorion), in place of a type, on the
reverse. A stater in Sir H. Weber’s Coll. has the eagle’s head on a convex
shield and a large incuse F as countermark. Cf. the shield series
described above.
Circ. B.C. 421-400.
The first introduction of the head of Hera as a coin-type is sup-
posed by Gardner (op. cit.) to have taken place both at Elis and
Argos about the time of the alliance contracted, circ. B.C. 420, between
Elis, Argos, and Mantineia. But, although it is quite conceivable that in
the worship of Hera the Argives and Eleians may have found a bond of
union, which they expressed upon their respective coinages, we must not
422
attach too much importance to political considerations as influencing
coin-types in this period.
FIG. 230.
A somewhat earlier head than that of Hera (cf. the older type of fulmen
on the reverse) is the powerful and severe head of Zeus (Fig. 230)
(B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XII. 10). The smaller denominations which appa-
rently belong to this stater are the following :—
Three letters Τ arranged in triskeles
fashion; in the spaces F Α Λ.
AR Tritetartemorion 9.7 grs.
Female head. [B. M.]
Τ, on either side of which, F Α.
AR Tetartemorion 3 grs.
The series which I would place next in chronological order is that
which is distinguished by the noble head of Hera on the obverse and by
a more realistic type of fulmen on the reverse :—
FIG. 231.
Head of Hera wearing lofty stephanos
adorned with conventional floral de-
sign. On some specimens is the
legend ΗΡΑ either above the head or
on the stephanos (Fig. 231).
[B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XII. 11-18.]
F Α Fulmen flaming at both ends; the
whole in olive-wreath.
It is instructive to compare the bold and large treatment of the features
of the goddess on the coins of this series with the weaker, if more delicate,
work which characterizes the coins with the same head struck some years
later.
The period ending about B.C. 400 also includes the following highly
interesting specimens.
FΑΛΕΙΟΝ Head of Zeus bound with
olive (?)-wreath.
[B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XIII. 1.]
ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑ Head of Olympia; hair
confined in sphendone.
The head of the Olympian Zeus on these coins is softer and more
ornate in style than the large and more severe conception of the same
god (B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XII. 10) noticed above. It is no less dis-
tinguishable from the Zeus-heads which follow it, first, by the smooth
and flowing beard instead of the crisp and curly one which characterizes
the coins of Arcadia (B.C. 370), and secondly, by the large-leaved wreath
which encircles the head and dominates the brow, while the wreath on
the later coins is comparatively inconspicuous and often half-hidden in
masses of hair.
The head of the nymph Olympia, accompanied by her name ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑ,
is easily distinguished from that of Hera by her head-dress. The Eleians
in the choice of this type perhaps intended to emphasize their claim to
the sole administration of the Olympic games.
On the following series a similar head of Olympia occupies the obverse
instead of the reverse.
F Α Head of Olympia; hair confined in
sphendone.
[B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XIII. 3-5.]
It is also to the close of the period ending about B.C. 400 that I would
ascribe the fine Hera-head on the following stater. In style (though it is
difficult to compare a female head with a male one) it strongly resembles
the head of Zeus above described (ibid., Pl. XIII. 1).
F Α Head of Hera wearing stephanos
bound with large olive-wreath.
[B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XIII. 12.]
During the next half-century there are fewer varieties of coin-types.
Hera seems to be the only divinity represented, and the predominant
type is a more feminine rendering of the bold and large-featured head of
the same goddess on the coins of the previous period.
F Α Head of Hera wearing ear-ring,
necklace, and stephanos adorned with
various floral patterns, and sometimes
inscribed, ΗΡΑ or FΑΛΕΙΩΝ.
[B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XIII. 13-15;
XIV. 1-11, 13, 14.]
Eagle with open wings, sometimes on
stag’s head or hare; the whole in
olive-wreath.
This is the last series of Eleian staters on which the wreath of wild
olive surrounds the reversetype, although it recurs on small coins of
424
a much later period. Note also the first occurrence of Ω for Ο not earlier
than B.C. 400.
Circ. B.C. 365-323
In the year B.C. 364 the Pisatans, under the protection of the Arcadians,
succeeded in wresting from the Eleians the presidency of the Olympic
games, and struck on that occasion some small gold coins (see Pisa) with
a head of Zeus similar in style to that on the coins of Elis of the last
period. Elis, however, before the next festival, was again in a position
to assert her supremacy, and from this time down to the Macedonian
conquest issued, as occasion required, silver staters bearing on the obverse
heads of Zeus. Stylistically these heads differ very considerably from
those above described. At first they closely resemble the ideal Zeus-head
on the fine coins of the newly founded Arcadian κοινον; cf. the thick and
curly beard, and luxurious growth of hair streaming downwards from the
temples over the back of the neck in grand wave-like fashion and high
relief, which throws into the background the laurel-wreath, hitherto the
predominant emblem of the kingship of Zeus. This new and more
leonine type of Zeus-head was henceforth universally adopted through-
out the Hellenic world (cf. the coins of Philip of Macedon, Alexander of
Epirus, &c.) as the final and perfect expression of an almighty god,
father and king of gods and men. No further improvement on this
noble conception of the head of the supreme deity was possible. It thus
became conventional and a type to be copied by successive die-engravers,
who, little by little, became more and more careless in workmanship,
content with roughly reproducing its most salient feature.
FIG. 233.
The earliest and finest examples of this new conception of the head of
Zeus on coins of Elis are the following :—
Head of Zeus, r. laur.
[B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XIII. 8.]
FΑΛΕΙΩΝ or F Α Eagle, wings closed,
standing r. on capital of column.
The later and inferior examples (B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XV. 1-3, 7, 8) have
on the reverse F A and an eagle with closed wings, sometimes standing
on a capital of column or ram’s head, &c., and with various symbols
and letters in the field :—fulmen, coiled serpent and ΔΙ (Fig. 234);
fulmen, coiled serpent and Η; coiled serpent and ΑΡ; fulmen, wreath,
and ΑΡΙ, &c. These coins are all more or less degenerate in style, but it
is questionable whether their issue extended beyond the beginning of the
Macedonian dominion, B.C. 323. Those reading ΑΡΙ are attributed by
Gardner to the tyrant Aristotimus, B.C. 272-271; but this conjecture is
425
disputed by Löbbecke (Z. f. N., xvii. 6) and Lambropoulos (Coins found
at Mycenae, p. 22), who suggest that the letters ΑΡΙ may stand for an
officina of a mint, as they occur also on contemporary coins of Argos,
and of Corinth. All three cities may have had their money struck
at one mint.
FIG. 234.
Circ. B.C. 323-312.
If any coins were struck at Elis during this period of Macedonian
supremacy, they will probably be identified among the Alexandrine
tetradrachms with symbol, fulmen (cf. Müller, Nos. 894-5).
Circ. B.C. 312-191.
On the expulsion of Telesphorus, the general of Antigonus, Elis
recovered her autonomy and renewed the issue of silver coins, but
either on a debased or on a different coin-standard which is identical with
that of the coins of the Achaean League.
Eagle, wings raised, clutching hare.
[B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XV. 9, 10.]
F Α Winged fulmen, sometimes with
symbol and letters in field.
F Α Fulmen within olive-wreath, often
with letters ΑΡΙ.
AR 40 grs.
The first of these coins is a curious reversion to an ancient type
long fallen into disuse. The same type of fulmen occurs on late Æ of
Lacedaemon.
BRONZE COINAGE. B.C. 323-191.
It is improbable that Elis issued bronze coins much before Macedonian
times. The following types are chiefly subsequent to B.C. 312. Obv.
Head of Zeus or of Hera. Rev. F A Eagle, Free horse, Zeus hurling
fulmen, Fulmen in wreath (B. M. C., Pelop., Pls. XV. 13-16 and
XVI. i; Wroth, N. C., 1905, p. 334).
Circ. B.C. 191-146.
In B.C. 191 Elis was compelled by the Achaeans, much against her
will, to join their League (p. 418, supra).
Circ. B.C. 146-43.
With the Roman conquest the series of the silver coins of Elis
comes to an end, but the town still continued to issue bronze money
of base style.
Head of Zeus.
FΑΛΕΙΩΝ in wreath of wild olive.
Æ .8
426
Imperial Times.
Hadrian to Caracalla. Inscr., ΗΛΕΙΩΝ or ΗΛΕΙWΝ. The following
types deserve especial mention. Hadrian, rev., Figure of Zeus Olympios
seated on throne, holding Nike, and resting on sceptre. Hadrian,
rev., Head of Zeus Olympios (Gardner, Types of Gk. Coins, Pl. XV. 18
and 19). There can be no doubt that these two remarkable coins are
copies of the head, and of the entire statue, of the world-renowned
chryselephantine Zeus of Pheidias at Olympia, and moreover that
they are the most faithful copies of this masterpiece which have been
handed down to us (cf. Gardner, Coins of Elis, p. 47 sq., and J. H. S.,
1908, p. 48 sq.). Hadrian, rev., River-god Alpheios reclining, holding in
his right hand a wreath and in his left a reed, at his feet a prize crown
containing a palm. It was on the banks of this river that the Olympian
games were solemnized, to which the palm in a prize crown here alludes.
Aphrodite riding on goat. Dionysos to front holding rhyton and
thyrsos, between panther and tympanum (Imhoof and Gardner, Num.
Comm. on Paus., 73, 74). Goddess (Olympia ?) standing; holding eagle
and olive-branch, between two recumbent river-gods (Z. f. N., xxiv.
Pl. III. 1).
Pisa. The ancient city of Pisa, a little to the east of Olympia, had
been destroyed by the Eleians in B.C. 572, but the descendants of its
former inhabitants continued to be distinguished as Pisatans, and in
B.C. 364 the Arcadians determined to restore to them their ancient right
of presiding over the Olympic games. This attempt proved successful
on the occasion of the 104th Olympiad. The Pisatans then seized the
temple treasures, and converted them into coin for the payment of troops.
A few specimens of this money, which is of gold, have been preserved
(R. Weil, Pisa, Z. f. N., xxii. 1900, 1 ff).
After this bold attempt on the part of the Pisatans, the Eleians
recovered the presidency of the games, and forthwith ordered the
104th celebration, as having been illegal, to be omitted from the
official list of Olympiads.
[De Bosset, Sur les Med. des iles de Cephallenia et d'Ithaca. London. 1845. Numismatische
Zeitung, 1837. Gardner, Num. Chron., 1885, p. 81; B. M. C., Pelop.; Babelon, Traité,
p. 907.]
Cephallenia, the largest of the Ionian islands, derived its name from
the hero Kephalos. In historical times this island was a tetrapolis, the
land being divided between the four towns, Same, Proni, Pale, and
Cranii, each of which seems to have been independent of its neighbours.
The money standard of the Cephallenian towns was the same as that
427
which prevailed in Corcyra (see p. 326). (Stater, 172 grs.; [Drachm,
86 grs.]; Tetrobol, 58 grs.; Triobol, 44 grs.; Diobol, 29 grs.; Trihemi-
obol, 22 grs.; obol, 14 grs.)
Cranii, B.C. 500 or later. The archaic silver money of this town,
Inscr., ΚR, ΚRΑ, ΚRΑΝΙ, &c., shows on the obverse a ram’s head
(Stater); ram (Triob.); forepart of ram, Rx. ΤRΙ (Trihemiob.); head of
ram (Obol). The usual reversetype is a bow.
On the bronze coins of the fourth century the usual types are :—Ram,
rev., bow; Bull’s head, rev., Κ; Ram, rev., Η; Kephalos standing resting
on spear, rev., ΚΡΑ, ram’s head or hoof; Head of Athena, rev., Κ or Η;
Head of Athena, rev., Kephalos kneeling with bow in hand; Helmet,
rev., Κ; &c.
It will be seen that the types for the most part refer to the myth of
Kephalos, and to the cultus of Hermes, his reputed father, to whom the
ram was sacred.
In B.C. 189 Cephallenia became subject to the Romans, and hence-
forth no coins seem to have been issued in the island until the time of
Augustus, when C. Proculeius issued coins bearing his own name in Latin
with the monogram of Cranium in the Greek character (B. M. C.,
Pelop., Pl. XVII. 7, 8).
Imperial—Domna, Maximinus, Philip I, and Otacilia. Inscr.,
ΚΡΑΝΑΙΩΝ. Types :—Man leading bull to the sacrifice; head of Athena,
&c. (Lambros, Pelop., 61, cf.Num. Zeitung, 1837, 113).
Corn-grain within the letter Π [Hunter
Cat., Pl. XXXVIII. 12].
AR Tetartemorion.
Some of these types occur on the bronze coins. The most frequent
reversetype is the corn-grain within the letter Π, or the letters ΠΑ in
monogram.
Proni, on the south-eastern coast of Cephallenia, was dominated by
Mt. Aenus, on the summit of which was the temple of Zeus Αινησιος.
This mountain is still covered with forests of fir-trees, which the fir-cone
shows must also have been the case in ancient times.
The dog on the silver coins of Same is the hound Lailaps presented to
Kephalos by Prokris.
Ithaca. This island, which derives its chief interest from the poems of
Homer, issued autonomous bronze coins, which appear to belong chiefly
to the fourth and third centuries. Inscr., ΙΘΑ, ΙΘΑΚΩΝ (B. M. C.,
Pelop., Pl. XXI. 8-13).
1 This coin is attributed by Earle Fox, more probably, to Mantineia.
429
Zacynthus, an important island about ten miles south of Cephallenia,
and the same distance west of the coast of Elis, contained but one
city, which bore the same name as the island, derived, it is said, from
Zakynthos, son of Dardanos. The coin-types, however, suggest that
Zakynthos was locally identified with Apollo (cf. the epithet Κυνθιος).
The crescent moon, on early Zacynthian coins, also suggests a cultus of
Artemis Selene or Κυνθια. The chief deities of Zacynthus were certainly
Apollo, to whom there was a temple in the lower town, Dionysos, and
Artemis. Pliny (xxxv. 15) mentions Mt. Elatus as a remarkable feature
in the island, ‘Mons Elatus ibi nobilis.’ On this mountain fragments of
an inscription have been found which show that a temple of Artemis
once stood there (Bursian, Geog., ii. 379). The silver money of Zacynthus
falls into the following chronological periods. (For illustrations see
N. C., 1885, Pls. III, IV; B. M. C., Pelop., Pls. XIX-XXI; Lambros,
Pelop., Pl. IX, and Babelon, Traité, Pl. XXXIX.) The weight standard
of the silver money corresponds with that of Cephallenia. The stater
weighs about 180 grs. (max.). Its divisions are thirds, 60 grs., sixths,
30 grs., and eighteenths, 10 grs.
The reversetype of this coin was perhaps suggested by that of the
alliance coins issued by Byzantium, Cnidus, Ephesus, Samos, Iasus, and
Rhodes, after the battle of Cnidus, B.C. 394. Cf. similar borrowed types
on contemporary coins of Thebes and Locri Epizephyrii. Von Sallet
(Z. f. N., xviii. 197) would identify the child on the Zacynthian coin
with the infant Asklepios, but his arguments are not convincing.
Circ. B.C. 370-350 and later.
Head of Apollo laureate, of fine style.
ΖΑΚΥΝ or ΖΑΚΥΝΘΙΩΝ Tripod and
magistrate’s name, ΑΓΕ.
Ζ Α Tripod. Symbol, large crescent.
Mag. ΣΤΡΑ, or no name.
AR Tetrob., Obol, &c.
Head of Apollo laureate.
Large Ζ within which ΖΑ and ΔΙ.
Æ .55
Head of Apollo laureate.
Ζ Α Tripod in wreath, ΔΙ, &c.
Æ .55
It is quite possible that the magistrate Dion, whose name occurs on
some of the Zacynthian staters, may have been Dion of Syracuse, who,
while preparing his expedition against Dionysius the Younger, B.C. 357,
made Zacynthus his head-quarters, and before embarking offered solemn
sacrifice with great magnificence to Apollo (Plut. Dion. xxii).
The remaining silver and bronze coins of autonomous times are of
various types, mostly small, and of careless work. The half-Pegasos
on some of them points to relations with Corinth (B. M. C., Pelop.,
Pl. XX. 7-10).
Circ. B.C. 39-32.
The next series of coins which can be accurately dated are bronze
pieces issued by C. Sosius, the general of M. Antony, who must have
been for a time governor of the island. Some of these bear the head
of Antony, others those of Apollo, Poseidon, or a Dolphin, with ΖΑ, and,
in successive years (B.C. 39-32), C. SOSIVS Q[uaestor], IMP[erator],
COS. DES[ignatus], and COS. (Lambros, Pelop., 73).
Messene. From the close of the second Messenian war, B.C. 668, for
the space of 300 years Messenia was subject to Sparta and incorporated
in Laconia. It was not until after the battle of Leuctra that the exiled
descendants of the Messenians were restored to their country, under the
auspices of Epaminondas, and the city of Messene founded B.C. 369 on
the western slope of Mt. Ithome, where stood a temple of Zeus Ithomatas,
whose figure appears on the coinage, and in whose honour an annual
festival (‘Ιθομαια) was held (Paus. iv. 33). The coins of Messene fall
into the following periods :—
The beautiful head of Demeter crowned with corn on these coins
is a free copy of the popular type first introduced by Euaenetos, the
Syracusan engraver. Cf. the contemporary coins of the Opuntian Locrians
and of Pheneus in Arcadia.
The temple of Demeter on Mt. Ithome is mentioned by Pausanias (iv. 31)
as a place of peculiar sanctity, Δημητρος ιερον Μεσσηνιοις εστιν αγιον. The
figure of Zeus on the reverse was probably suggested by the statue
executed by Ageladas for the Messenians while they were settled at
Naupactus, το δε αγαλμα του Διος ‘Αγελαδα μεν εστιν εργον, εποιηθη δε εξ
αρχης τοις οικησασιν εν Ναυπακτω Μεσσηνιων (Paus. iv. 33.). On the restora-
tion of the Messenians to their native land the statue appears to have
been transported to Messene. It was not, however, placed in the temple
of Zeus on Mt. Ithome, but kept in the Priest’s house in the lower city.
After circ. B.C. 330.
The Messenians after Macedonian times adopted the Attic standard
in place of the Aeginetic previously in use. Tetradrachms were now
issued with the old types modified.
432
FIG. 237.
Head of Demeter of poor style (Fig.
237).
[B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XXII. 6, 7.]
ΜΕΣΣΑΝΙΩΝ Zeus Ithomatas as be-
fore, but of more slim proportions;
behind, sometimes ΙΘΩΜ. In front,
tripod and magistrate’s name.
AR Attic Tetradr.
After circ. B.C. 280.
The next series of Messenian silver money resembles in style the
contemporary coinage of the Achaean League.
Head of Zeus.
ΜΕΣ Tripod, sometimes with magis-
trate’s name; all in wreath.
AR Attic Tetrobol = Aeginetic Triobol.
There are bronze coins of all the above periods, of which the types for
the most part resemble the silver.
For Federal coins of the Achaean League see p. 418.
ΜЄCCΗΝΙWΝ Bust of Messene veiled
and turreted, or bust of Emperor.
Zeus Ithomatas as above, or Asklepios
standing, Herakles, Hygieia, Arte-
mis Laphria, Athena, &c.
Æ .75
The obverse of the first of these coins represents Messene, the daughter
of Triopas, of whom there was a temple at Messene with a statue of gold
and Parian marble (Paus. iv. 31).
Asine. A town of Messenia built by the Dryopes when they were
expelled from Asine in Argolis, at a very early date.
The Asinaeans were proud of their Dryopian origin, and in addition
to a temple of Apollo they had a shrine and an αγαλμα αρχαιον of Dryops,
in whose honour they celebrated a mystery every other year (Paus. iv. 34).
For Federal bronze coins see Achaean League,p. 418.
Imperial—Severus to Geta. Inscr., ΑCΙΝΑΙΩΝ. Types— Apollo
Pythaeos leaning on pillar (Paus. ii. 36. 5), Asklepios, Hermes,
Perseus, &c.
Colone. Imperial of Severus, Domna, and Geta. Inscr. ΚΟΛΩΝΙЄΩΝ
and ΚΟΛWΝЄΙΤWΝ. Types—Artemis, Asklepios, Poseidon, Bull,
Aphrodite facing, resting on sceptre and holding apple.
The autonomous coins formerly attributed to this city belong to
Colone in the Troad.
Corone derived its name from Coroneia in Boeotia, whence it was
founded. In the Acropolis was a bronze statue of Athena holding a
crow in her hand. It is the head of this goddess which appears on the
coins.
This coin-type would lead us to suppose that Lampadephoria were
celebrated at Mothone in honour of Hephaestos. Imhoof (op. cit.), p. 171.
See also Rev. Num., 1864, p. 187.
Imperial—Severus to Geta. Inscr., ΜΟΘΩΝΑΙΩΝ. Types—Askle-
pios, Poseidon, Athena, Isis, &c., and the Port of Mothone in the form
of an amphitheatre with a galley about to enter it (Paus. iv. 35. 1).
Pylus. Imperial—Severus to Geta. Inscr., ΠΥΛΙWΝ. Types—
Asklepios, Dionysos, Athena, and Ram on a basis.
Imperial—Severus to Geta. Inscr., ΘΟΥΡΙΑΤΩΝ. Types—Zeus,
Athena, Asklepios, &c., all with letters ΛΑ in the field, indicating that
Thuria, although geographically situated in Messenia, belonged at this
time politically to Laconia (cf. Paus. iv. 31. 1).
Gythium, the port of Sparta. Imperial—Severus to Geta. Inscr.,
434
ΓΥΘΕΑΤΩΝ. Types—Apollo Karneios, with statue of Pan on pedestal
behind him, Herakles, Dionysos, Zeus, Athena, Aphrodite holding apple,
Asklepios, Hermes, the Dioskuri, &c.
Lacedaemon. Of the traditional iron money of Sparta no specimens
have come down to us, nor indeed is there any money of any metal
known to have been struck at Sparta until the third century B.C., the
earliest coins being tetradrachms and drachms copied from those of
Alexander the Great, but reading ΒΑΣΙΛΕΟΣ ΑΡΕΟΣ (Lambros, Pelop.,
Pl. XI. 6). It is also to the reign of Areus that the following tetradrachms
seem to belong. The portraits on the few known specimens vary
considerably. Some of them resemble in general type the heads of
Demetrius Poliorcetes (Lambros, ib., Fig. 7; N. C., 1897, Pl. V. 1; B. M. C.,
Pelop., Pl. XXIV. 1).
Λ Α Archaic agalma of the Apollo of
Amyclae helmeted, holding spear and
bow, and adorned on the side with a
cock standing on an aplustre; beside
the statue, a goat; in field, wreath.
AR Tetradrachm.
The reversetype corresponds with the description given by Pausanias
(iii. 19) of the Apollo of Amyclae, but he makes no mention of the goat,
εχει δε επι τη κεφαλη κρανος, λογχην δε εν ταις χερσι και τοξον.
The coins which seem to follow next in order of time, and which
I would assign to the period between the death of Areus and the
usurpation of the tyrant Nabis, are the following :—
Circ. B.C. 266-207.
FIG. 239.
435
Head of Athena in crested Corinthian
helmet (Fig. 239).
On these coins ΒΑΙΛΕΟΣ and ΝΑΒΙΟΣ are not blunders for βασιλεος
and Ναβιδος, but Laconian dialectic forms (see Perdrizet, N. C., 1898, 1).
When, in B.C. 192, Sparta joined the Achaean League after the defeat
of Nabis, she seems to have struck both Federal and autonomous coins
down to the time of Augustus, though the silver money doubtless ceased
in B.C. 146.
Circ. B.C. 192-146 and later.
Bearded head of Herakles diademed,
laureate, or crowned with ivy.
[B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XXIV. 4-6.]
The autonomous bronze money of Lacedaemon is plentiful. The series
commences in the third century B.C., and extends into Roman times.
The principal obverse types are heads of Apollo, of the Dioskuri, of
Athena, of Herakles, of Lykurgos, &c., while those of the reverse are
Club, Owl, Eagle, Two amphorae, head of Artemis, the Dioskuri, Pan
seated on rock, Artemis huntress, Artemis with torch, Club and caduceus
united, &c.
The following coin must also be ascribed to Lacedaemon :—
(See Zeit. f. Num., vii. p. 17.) The magistrate ΤΙ may be Timaristos
the Ephor whose name occurs in full on other coins. It is doubtful
whether Κυπαρισσια is here an epithet of Artemis or the name of an
agonistic festival; the latter seems more probable.
Among other magistrates’ names is also that of ΕΥΡΥΚΛΗΣ, who was
governor of Laconia under Augustus (Strab., p. 366), and of ΑΤΡΑΤΙΝΟΣ
(Imhoof, Mon. gr., p. 172).
436
The following may also be mentioned :—
ΣΠΑΡΤΗ Diademed bust of Sparta,
daughter of Eurotas and wife of
Lakedaemon, fourth king of Laconia.
ΛΑ ΕΠΙ ΕΥΡΥΚΛΕΟΣ The Dioskuri
galloping.
Æ 1.0
Head of Zeus.
ΛΑ ΕΠΙ ΛΑΚWΝΟΣ Heads of the
Dioskuri.
Æ .8
C. Julius Lacon succeeded his father Eurycles in the government of
Lacedaemon. His name also occurs on a coin of Claudius.
These coins are remarkable for the mention of the Ephors, a title which
does not occur, so far as I am aware, on the coins of any other city.
For the history of the family of C. Julius Eurycles see R. Weil
(Mittheilungen des Archäologischen Instituts in Athen, Band vi).
There are also Lacedaemonian bronze coins with the following re-
markable inscriptions:—
Imperial—Augustus to Salonina. Inscr., ΛΑ, ΛΑΚЄΔΑΙΜΟΝΙΩΝ.
Principal Types—The Dioskuri, Apollo Amyklaios, Apollo in the attitude
of Apollo Lykios with his hand upon his head, Aphrodite Morpho veiled,
seated on square cippus, and apparently with bonds about her feet, as
described by Pausanias (iii. 15), Asklepios, Hygieia, Hermes Agoraios
carrying infant Dionysos (Paus. iii. 11, 14), &c., sometimes with marks
of value ΑC[σαρια], Δ, Ϛ, Η (= 4, 6, 8) in field (Imhoof, op. cit., p. 173).
Cythera. This island had in early times received from the Phoe-
nicians the worship of Aphrodite, and throughout historical times it
continued to be a special seat of that cultus. Its coins are all of bronze,
and for the most part belong apparently to the third and second centuries
B.C. Inscr., ΚΥ, ΚΥΘ, ΚΥΘΗΡΙΩΝ &c.
Argos, renowned in legend as one of the most ancient cities in Greece,
lay at the foot of a lofty hill overlooking a wide plain, bounded on the
south by the broad Argolic Gulf. In the earliest historical times it is
said to have been the centre of an amphictyony of all the neighbouring
towns. None of these ancient cities, unless Aegina was one of them,
seem to have coined money before the Persian wars. On the archaic
staters with two dolphins, sometimes attributed to Argos, see Uncertain
archaic coins of the Aegaean Islands, infra, p. 480 f.
A few years before the Persian wars Argos met with a crushing defeat
at the hands of the Spartans, which crippled her power and put an end
to her prosperity for the space of an entire generation. It was not until
about B.C. 468 that, by the destruction of several neighbouring cities,
including Mycenae, and the removal of their population to Argos, she
regained her ancient importance and began to issue silver coins.
Circ. B.C. 468-421 or later.
The coins which I would attribute to this period are the following :—
Wolf.
Large Α, above which, two deep square
indentations: all in incuse square.
AR Dr.
Half-Wolf.
Id.
AR ½ Dr.
Wolf’s head.
Id.
AR Obol.
⊟.
Id.
AR ½ Obol.
Most of these coins have from one to four pellets within or about the Α
in the incuse square. They are not marks of value, as they do not
correspond with the denominations on which they occur. Other small
silver coins attributed to Argos bear a helmet On both sides or a rosette
on the obverse, and a helmet on the reverse (B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XXVII.
7, 8). The flower may be a symbol of Hera‘Ανθεια.
The wolf is the well-known symbol of Apollo Lykios, whose worship
at Argos dates from very remote times. Hence Sophocles (Electr. 6)
calls the agora of Argos του λυκοκτονου θεου αγορα Αυκειος, for here
stood the temple of the god (Paus. ii. 19). The archaic aspirate ⊟
on the Hemiobol can hardly in this instance stand for a mark of value
for ημιοβολιον, for it frequently recurs on bronze coins of Argos, where
such an interpretation is inadmissible. I take it to be the initial
letter of the name of the goddess Hera, or of games (Heraea), handed
down from archaic times like the Q at Corinth, the F at Elis, and the
Μ (= Σ) at Sicyon (cf. the ☧ as a Christian symbol). That the letter ⊟
has this signification seems on other grounds highly probable, for it also
occurs stamped upon a roof-tile from the old temple of Hera near Argos,
with which may be compared a fragment of large bowl from the same
site inscribed ΤAΜ⊟ΕΡAΜΕΙΝΙ (τας ‘Ηρας ειμι) (Waldstein, The Argive
Heraeum, I. 224).
438
IRON MONEY.
It is probable that down to the age of Pheidon, king of Argos, iron was
the principal medium of exchange throughout Peloponnesus in the form
of spits, οβελισκοι, and that the statement of Aristotle (Fr. 481), that
Pheidon dedicated specimens of these οβελισκοι in the Heraeum, is worthy
of credit. Whether he dedicated them as official standards for regulating
the exact weights of the uncoined currency of his own time, as Reinach
ingeniously suggests (L'hist. par les monnaies, p. 35 ff.), or whether he
dedicated them to the goddess merely as specimens of the obsolete
currency superseded by stamped lumps of silver, said to have been intro-
duced by him into Peloponnesus in connexion with his reform of weights
and measures, is a doubtful point. It is noteworthy, however, that
a bundle of these iron οβελισκοι has actually been discovered on the site
of the Heraeum (Waldstein, Heraeum, I. pp. 63, 177). In any case it would
seem that even after the introduction of silver coins into Peloponnesus
iron continued to be used as money, and that it was occasionally cast
(not struck) in the form of coins. Only a few specimens of this iron
coinage have survived. They bear the types of Argos, Heraea, and
Tegea, and belong to the same period as the early silver coins of those
cities (Ath. Mitth., vii. 2, 377; cf.Journ. Int. Num., 1907, p. 269,
and Blätter für Münzfreunde, 1908). Those of Argos have on the obv. the
forepart of a wolf and on the rev. the letter Α. (Cf. Heraea and Tegea.)
Circ. B.C. 421-322 or later.
The coins of Argos in this period are among the most beautiful in
Greece, as might be expected from the high standing of Argos as a school
of art.
FIG. 240.
Head of Hera wearing stephanos, on
which floral ornament (Fig. 240).
ΑR^ΕΙΟΝ, ΑRΓΕΙΩΝ, and ΑΡΓΕΙΩΝ
Two dolphins in opposite directions;
between them, wolf, helmet, grapes,
ivy-branch, crab, tripod, bucranium,
swan, human head, lyre, pomegranate,
or column, &c.
ΑΡΓΕΙΩΝ Diomedes, naked but for
chlamys, grasping sword, stepping
stealthily along and carrying the
Palladium on his extended hand; be-
low, sometimes, a swan.
Concerning the beautiful head of Hera on these coins see Gardner
(Types of Greek Coins, p. 138). The statue of the Argive Hera by
Polycleitus wore a stephanos adorned with figures of the Horae and
Charites (Paus. ii. 17. 4). As such complicated ornaments could not
well be reproduced on a small scale, a coin-engraver might naturally
substitute a more simple form of decoration. As the Argive hero
Diomedes was believed to have brought to Argos the Palladium which
he carried off from Troy, the exploit is appropriately represented on
Argive coins. The swan and the dolphins are Apolline symbols.
The column which appears as a symbol between the dolphins on some
of the staters has hitherto been called a quiver, but I believe it to repre-
sent a columnar pump or drinking fountain, in connexion with the
sacred ‘water of freedom'ελευθεριον υδορ, used by the priestesses in the
Heraeum, which, after flowing down a rock-hewn aqueduct, supplied
the holy well called Kynadra at Argos (Waldstein, Heraeum, i. p. 18).
A minute examination of this object on a specimen in the Brit. Mus.
reveals on one side of the column a pump-handle and on the other side
a projection (basin (?)) supporting a vase thus placed to receive the water
seen dripping from the cone-shaped top of the pillar. On late bronze
coins the same pillar-fountain is represented furnished with spouts half-
way up the column (B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XXVIII. 8), and on a coin in the
Hunter Coll. (Cat., vol. ii. Pl. XXXIX. 12) the pump is shown with two
handles on each side of the shaft.
With regard to the Temple-key see Zeitschrift für Numismatik (iii.
113-22). This symbol may refer to Hera as the guardian and custodian
goddess of Argos; cf. the epithet κληδουχος applied in this sense to Athena
(Arist. Thesm. 1143).
Circ. B.C. 322-229 and later.
During the century which followed the Lamian war it is probable
that if large coins were struck at Argos they were tetradrachms of the
Alexandrine types, resembling those of Sicyon of the same time. The
smaller coins consisted of Attic tetrobols (or Aeginetic triobols) as
follows :—
Forepart of wolf.
Large Α in incuse square with adjunct
symbol and letters or magistrates’
names at full length.
AR Attic Tetrob.
Wolf’s head.
Id.
AR Aeginetic ¾ Ob.
It is to this period that the autonomous bronze money of Argos for the
most part belongs, though some of it may be earlier.
This last type refers to the battle of the wolf and the bull, which took
place while Danaos and Gelanor were contending for the sovereignty of
Argolis. The omen was interpreted as deciding the contest in favour
of Danaos, who, in consequence, erected a temple in honour of Apollo
Lykios.
Circ. B.C. 229-146.
For coins of this period see Achaean League,p. 418.
Imperial Times.
Trajan to Salonina. Inscr., ΑΡΓЄΙΩΝ or ΝЄΜЄΙΑ, ΝЄΜЄΙΑ ΗΡΑΙΑ,
or ΗΡΑΙΑ, without the ethnic, in allusion to the Nemean and Heraean
games. The types are numerous and of considerable interest. The
following are some of the more important :—Herakles strangling the
Nemean lion. Opheltes, Hypsipyle and the serpent. Herakles resting
at the foot of Mount Apesas. The three Charites. Hera seated with
Hebe before her and a peacock between them. Perseus with Gorgon's
head, sometimes resting his shield upon a cippus. Apollo variously
represented. Zeus seated or standing. Tyche standing. Hermes
standing. Kleobis and Biton drawing their mother in a chariot (Paus.
ii. 20. 3). Asklepios. Leto with small figure, Chloris, beside her (Paus.
ii. 21. 9). Demeter standing. Eileithyia holding in each hand a torch,
one raised and one lowered. Hekate triformis. Palladium, sometimes
in temple on Acropolis. Diomedes carrying off the Palladium. Dionysos.
Danae receiving the golden shower. Ares. Aphrodite (?) standing.
Poseidon pursuing Amymone. Nemesis. Isis, &c. Nearly all these
types are figured in Imhoof and Gardner’s Numismatic Commentary on
Pausanias, from which the above list is taken. Some of the later Im-
perial coins of Valerian, Gallienus, &c., bear marks of value = 6, 7, or 10
Assaria (Imhoof, Gr. M., 162).
Cleonae, a small town on the road from Corinth to Argos, about
twenty miles north of the latter. The Nemean games were celebrated
in its territory. At Cleonae was a temple of Herakles on the spot where
he slew Eurytos (Diod. iv. 33).
These bronze coins are, however, assigned by Gardner to the occasion
of the Nemean Festival presided over by the Cleonaeans in B.C. 235
(B. M. C., Pelop., p. 154; Plut. Arat. xxviii).
For Federal money of the Achaean League see p. 418.
Imperial—Commodus to Geta. Inscr., ΚΛЄΟΝΑΙΩΝ or ΚΛЄΩΝΑΩΝ.
A coin of Severus has for type Asklepios seated, as on silver coins of
Epidaurus of the fourth century B.C. Another type which refers to
Asklepian games at Cleonae is the head of Asklepios placed on the back
of a bridled horse. (Cf. a coiled serpent on horseback, of similar signi-
fication, on a coin of Philadelphia, Lydiae.) Among other Imperial types
may be mentioned an archaic statue of Athena, perhaps copied from the
one by Dipoenus and Scyllis mentioned by Pausanias (ii. 15. 1), Isis
Pharia, Artemis between two cypress trees, &c.
Epidaurus. This city was in historical times chiefly celebrated for
its great sanctuary of Asklepios, to whose cultus its coins bear ample
testimony.
Ε Asklepios seated on throne holding
sceptre, his other hand extended over
the head of a serpent; beneath throne,
a dog lying.
AR Aeginetic Dr. of light weight.
Head of Asklepios, r. laur.
[N. C., 1892, Pl. I. 17.]
Similar.
AR Dr. plated, 82.1 grs.
These remarkable coins are of considerable archaeological interest,
corresponding as they do most minutely with the description given by
Pausanias (ii. 27) of the chryselephantine statue of Asklepios at Epidaurus,
the work of Thrasymedes of Paros (B.C. 350 or later, N. C., 1892, p. 15).
The dog beside the god is the animal which watched over him when as
an infant he was exposed on Mount Tittheion and suckled by a goat.
Bronze after B.C. 350.
Head of Asklepios laureate.
ΕΠ Epione wife of Asklepios carrying
phiale; symbol, sometimes, cupping
vessel σικυα (cf. Paus. ii. 27. 5;
29. 1).
In B.C. 243 Epidaurus became a member of the Achaean League
(see p. 418).
Imperial—Ant. Pius to Sev. Alexander. Inscr., ΙЄΡΑC ЄΠΙΔΑΥΡΟΥ
or ЄΠΙΔΑΥΡΟ[Υ] Bust of Asklepios (?). Rev. ΑCΚΛΗΠЄΙΑ in wreath,
in reference to the Asklepian games celebrated at Epidaurus every five
years. Types—Shepherd finding Asklepios suckled by goat. Asklepios
seated with dog and serpent. Asklepios standing. Poseidon standing.
Hygieia standing in round temple. Concerning this rotunda see
Svoronos, Die Polykletische ‘Tholos’ in Epidauros (Journ. Int. d'arch.
num., 1901, 1 ff.); Reinach (Rev. des Etudes grecq., 1901, 412), and
Dörpfeld (Hermes, 1902, 250 and 483).
Hermione. An ancient Dryopian city on the south coast of Argolis,
distinguished for its sanctuary of Demeter Chthonia, in whose honour an
annual festival called Χθονια was celebrated.
For Federal money of the Achaean League see p. 418.
Imperial—Severus to Geta. Inscr., ЄΡΜΙΟΝЄWΝ. Types—Hermes;
Poseidon (Paus. ii. 35. 1); Zeus; Kybele; a victimarius leading a cow to
the sacrifice (Paus. ii. 35. 4); Tyche standing (Paus. ii. 35. 3); Aphrodite
with Eros (Paus. ii. 34. 11); Dionysos, &c.
Methana. An obscure town a few miles north of Troezen. Pausanias
(ii. 34) mentions hot springs which burst forth near this city in the time
of Antigonus Gonatas. The whole region still bears evidences of violent
volcanic action. Hence the worship of Hephaestos and his head on the
coins.
Under Ptolemaic influence Methana bore for a time the name of
Arsinoë and struck bronze coins, which have been hitherto assigned
to Arsinoë in Crete, p. 459.
Bust of Arsinoë wife of Ptolemy IV.
[Journ. Int. d'arch. num., 1904, 397.]
ΑΡ ΣΙ Naked helmeted figure standing
resting with r. on spear, round which,
sometimes, a serpent twines, and with
l. on shield.
Tiryns. This ancient city was destroyed by the Argives about the
same time as Mycenae (B.C. 468), and its expelled inhabitants settled
at the sea-port of Halice in the territory of Hermione at the entrance
of the Argolic Gulf. Henceforth they were spoken of as ‘Αλιεις οι εκ
Τιρυνθος or simply as ‘Αλιεις, but on their coins they clung to their
ancient name (see Svoronos in Journ. Int. d'arch. num., 1907, 5 sqq.).
The following coins belong undoubtedly to the fourth century B.C.
Τ Ι, ΤΙRΥ, or ΤΙΡΥΝΘΙΩΝ &c. Palm-
tree between lyre and grapes.
Æ .6-.4
Troezen occupied a fertile maritime plain in the south-east corner of
Argolis. Poseidon and Athena are said to have contended for the land
of the Troezenians, and these two divinities jointly received worship in
the city. Hence, as Pausanias remarks (ii. 30), the trident and the
head of Athena were placed upon the coinage και δη και νομισμα αυτοις το
αρχαιον επισημα εχει τριαιναν και ‘Αθηνας προσωπον. Troezen was from of
old intimately connected with Athens, which accounts for the fact that
it is, perhaps, the only Peloponnesian city which made use of the Attic
standard of weight.
For other varieties see Imhoof, Mon. gr., p. 181, and B. M. C., Pelop.,
Pl. XXXI; and for later Æ coins obv. Head of Apollo or Poseidon,
rev. Demeter standing with torch, Artemis (?) seated, or Dolphin, see
Lambros, Pelop., p. 107.
The oracular temple of Apollo Thearios stood in the agora of Troezen
(Paus. ii. 31. 6).
Imperial—Commodus to Philip Jun. Inscr., ΤΡΟΙΖΗΝΙWΝ. Types—
Acropolis rock surmounted by temple of Athena Sthenias (Paus. ii.
32. 5). Archaic statue of Athena Sthenias, by Kallon of Aegina.
444
Artemis with dog hunting stag, probably Artemis Lykia, whose temple
stood near the theatre and was said to have been founded by Hippolytos
(Paus. ii. 31. 4). Apollo with arrow, leaning on tripod. The Dioskuri
standing (Paus. ii. 31. 6). Zeus standing. Hippolytos as hunter with
dog beside him leaning on trunk of tree (Paus. ii. 32. 1). Hippolytos
with horse and dog. Hippolytos armed before Phaedra. Aphrodite
Nymphia (?) standing (Paus. ii. 32. 7). Asklepios standing. Fountain,
Ηρακλειος κρηνη, in the form of a pillar with a lion seated on it and
a basin in front into which water flows (cf. Paus. ii. 32. 4; see also column
fountain on coins of Argos, p. 439). Theseus lifting the rock or slaying
the Minotaur (Paus. ii. 32. 7). Tyche standing before altar, &c.
Nearly all these Imperial types are fully discussed and figured in
Imhoof and Gardner’s Numismatic Commentary on Pausanias, p. 47.
Sestini mentions also a coin with the type of Artemis Lykia holding
a wolf’s head (Num. Vet., p. 215), but it is highly probable that he was
mistaken with regard to the object held by Artemis.
[A. v. Sallet, Zeitsehrift für Numismatik, ii. 139. J. Friedlaender, Ibid., ii. 246. Imhoof-
Blumer, Ibid., iii. 289; Mon. gr., 184 ff. R. Weil, Z. f. N., ix. 18. Babelon, Traité,
pp. 836 sqq.]
Concerning the political condition of Arcadia, from the time of the
dissolution of the ancient monarchy in the early part of the seventh
century B.C. down to the age of Epaminondas, our historical data lead
us to infer that the country was split up into a number of independent
cantons without any bond of union. Such an assumption is not,
however, borne out by the evidence of the early Arcadian coinage.
The extensive series of coins bearing the inscription ΑΡΚΑΔΙΚΟΝ, &c.,
ranging from circ. B.C. 490-417, proves most satisfactorily that the Arca-
dians, in spite of their continual dissensions, maintained from first to last
something more than a mere tradition of unity, for this coinage, although
not politically a federal currency like that of the later Achaean League,
shows that the independent Arcadian towns and villages held fast to the
religious bond which brought them together from time to time to celebrate
in common their national festivals Arcadica. The place of mintage of
this series of coins was probably Heraea (see infra, p. 447, and Imhoof,
Mon. gr., p. 184 ff.).
Concurrently with these Festival issues many of the Arcadian towns
struck coins with their own local types for circulation within their
respective territories.
From about B.C. 417-371 no Festival coins were struck in the name of
the Arcadians; but, after the victory of Epaminondas at Leuctra, B.C. 371,
the party in Arcadia opposed to Sparta seems to have re-established the
national Arcadian Games, and to have issued Festival, or Federal, coins
at the new Arcadian capital Megalopolis, which was founded, under the
immediate auspices of Epaminondas, on the river Helisson, near the
frontiers of Laconia. The money of the revived Arcadian κοινον derived
its types from the cultus of Zeus Lykaeos, and of Pan, whose sanctuaries
were situated on Mount Lycaeum, the Arcadian Olympus.
445
Circ. B.C. 370-362 and later.
FIG. 241.
Head of Zeus Lykaeos (Fig. 241).
[B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XXXII. 10.]
Pan seated on rock, his lagobolon in his
r. hand which rests on the rock; at
his feet the syrinx, and in the fieldΑΡΚ (in mon.); on the rock ΟΛΥΜ
or ΧΑΡΙ.
The inscriptions ΟΛΥΜ or ΧΑΡΙ in small characters on the side of
the mountain or rock on which Pan is seated have been explained
conjecturally as engravers’ signatures (B. M. C., Pelop., p. lix). May
they not, however, be more probably abbreviated names of the Festival
Games for which the coins were issued? e.g. ΟΛΥΜ, perhaps on the
occasion of the 104th Olympiad celebrated by the Arcadians in B.C. 364
(cf. ΟΛVΝΠΙΚΟΝ on coins of Elis (p. 420). Similarly ΧΑΡΙ might
stand for Charisia or Charitesia (Pauly-Wissowa, Encyclop., s. v. ‘Charites,’
III. 2155, n. 8), agonistic festivals in honour of the Charites; cf. also
Charisios, the eponymous founder of the Arcadian town of Charisiae
(Paus. viii. 3. 4).
The two names on the bronze coins are perhaps Possikrates and
Theoxenos, two of the ten founders of Megalopolis (Paus. viii. 27. 2).
Head of Zeus Lykaeos.
[Z. f. N., ix. Pl. II. 11, 12.]
The later specimens have an eagle in the field as well as the monogram.
Although Megalopolis issued these Festival, or possibly Federal, coins
with the Arcadian monogram, it is abundantly proved by the local staters
of Pheneus, Stymphalus, &c., which began to be issued after the fatal
battle of Mantineia (B.C. 362), that Megalopolis can hardly have possessed
a monopoly of coining money for the whole of Arcadia, for although
triobols bearing the Arcadian monogram continued to be issued at
Megalopolis apparently down to a much later date, this monogram is
afterwards replaced by the letters ΜΕΓ (see Megalopolis,p. 450).
Imperial Coinage.
In the reign of Hadrian the cultus of Antinoüs was established on
a grand scale at Mantineia, which was the mother city of Bithynium,
446
the birth-place of Antinoüs. It was probably at one of the great festivals
in honour of this new god that a certain Veturius dedicated the fol-
lowing coins ‘to the Arcadians'.
ΒЄΤΟΥΡΙΟC Bust of Antinoüs.
[B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XXXIII. 1, 2.]
ΤΟΙC ΑΡΚΑCΙ Horse stepping to right.
Æ 1.35 and .85
Alea, a small place between Orchomenus and Stymphalus, where were
temples of Artemis Ephesia, Athena Alea, and Dionysos (Paus. viii.
23. 1).
Imperial—Severus to Geta. Inscr., ΚΑΦΥΙΑΤΩΝ. Types—Apollo,
Artemis, Poseidon, Tyche, &c. (cf. Paus. viii. 23. 3).
Cleitor, between Pheneus and Psophis (Zeit. f. Num., ii. 168, iii. 280,
ix. 19; Imh., Mon. gr., 187), said to have been founded by Kleitor,
grandson of Arkas.
Imperial—Severus, Domna, Plautilla. Inscr., ΚΛЄΙΤΟΡΙΩΝ. Types—
Asklepios, Tyche, Dioskuri, Demeter (?), Rider (Z. f. N., xxiv. p. 65).
Cynaetha in northern Arcadia. Imperial of Caracalla. Inscr.,
ΚΥΝΑΙΘЄWΝ Agora with colonnade containing temple and another
building with statue and tree beside it (Z. f. N., xxiv. p. 66).
Heraea. The Heraeans were a numerous and influential clan occupy-
ing western Arcadia and the valleys of the Alpheius and the Ladon on the
confines of Elis. They derived their name, according to tradition, from
Heraios, one of the sons of Lykaon. Down to the fourth century B.C.
they are said to have dwelt in villages, κατα κωμας, but the Heraean
coins of the sixth century prove that at any rate they possessed a central
mint, and therefore that they formed a separate community; cf. the
Treaty between the Eleians and the Heraeans, B.C. 550-500 (Hicks and
Hill, Greek Hist. Inscr., p. 10).
Head of Demeter of archaic style veiled,
wearing stephane and necklace.
[Babelon, Traité, Pl. XXXVIII.]
, , Ρ, Ρ, , ΡΑ, ΡΑ, RΑ,
R, ΕΡΑ, ΕΡΑΙ, &c., in an incuse
square often bordered by zig-zag lines
with dots in the angles or by a dotted
square without the zig-zags.
AR Triobols and Obols.
Head of goddess (Despoina) without
veil; her hair bound with string of
pearls.
[Babelon, Traité, Pl. XXXVIII. 5.]
ΕRΑ between plain and dotted lines
within an incuse square.
AR Triobol.
Between the beginning and the latter part of the fifth century no coins
appear to have been struck in the name of the Heraeans, but, as Imhoof-
Blumer has shown, it is almost certain that the rich series of triobols
reading ‘Αρκαδικον, variously abbreviated, was issued at Heraea through-
out this period, so that in point of fact the Heraean mint may have
continued active from the earliest times down to the age of Epaminondas.
It would therefore seem that, early in the fifth century, the Heraeans
assumed the presidency, or were entrusted with the management of the
national Arcadian Games, and that at each recurring festival they issued
448
coins, not, as of old, in their own name merely for local circulation, but
for the convenience of all Arcadians congregated during the festivals of
Zeus Lykaios held periodically on the summit of Mt. Lycaeum (Paus.
viii. 38. 7).
Circ. B.C. 490-417.
Zeus Lykaios, enthroned, or rarely,
standing, letting fly his eagle from
his outstretched r. hand and resting
on sceptre.
[Babelon, Traité, Pl. XXXVIII. 8-18.]
ΑR, ΑRΚΑ, ΑRΑDΙΟ, ΑRΚΑ-
ΔΙQΟ, ΑΡΚΑΔΙΚΟΝ, &c. Incuse
square, within which a female head
variously represented in profile or
three-quarter face, and ranging, ac-
cording to date, from the archaic to
the transitional style.
AR Triobols and Obols.
The head on the reverses of the coins of this interesting series is doubt-
less that of the goddess who was worshipped by the Arcadians under
the name of Despoina (the Mistress), the daughter of Poseidon Hippios
and Demeter, the dread goddess whose true name Pausanias (viii. 37) is
afraid to communicate to the uninitiated.
The ancient Arcadian festivals appear to have been discontinued in the
latter part of the fifth century, if we may draw this inference from the
fact that Heraea after this time began again to coin money in her own
name, which she continued to do, intermittently, down to the close of the
fourth century. [1]
Circ. B.C. 420-322 or later.
Eagle with serpent in his claws,—type
borrowed from coins of Elis.
[Lambros, Pelop., Pl. XIV. 3.]
ΕΡΑΙ Young hunter (Heraeos the
oekist) seated, resting on spear and
holding bow.
The letter Ε on the above coins cannot stand for hemiobolion, as the
weights prove. It signifies the mint of Heraea; cf. Τ at Tegea, Μ at
Mantineia, &c. But the Ε thrice repeated on the Trihemiobol seems to
combine the two meanings.
1 Iron money (?) circ. B.C. 400 (?). In Ath. Mitth. vii. 377, Köhler describes an iron coin,
Obv. Head of Athena, Rev.incusecircle containing a very obscure inscription read by him
ΗΡΑΟΑΙ. I doubt whether this is the correct reading, and consequently whether the coin
(if indeed it be a coin) belongs to Heraea.
449
For many other varieties see Imhoof, Mon. gr., pp. 189 sqq.
Imperial—Severus and Caracalla. Inscr., ΗΡΑΙЄΩΝ. Types—Ar-
chaic upright statue of Helios naked, facing. River-god Alpheios with
a bull in front and fishes beneath, &c.
Mantineia, in eastern Arcadia, originally only the centre of a small
group of villages surrounding an oracular sanctuary (μαντειον) of the
Arcadian Poseidon Hippios, grew during the sixth century B.C. to be
a fortified town, and from about B.C. 500 began to issue coins in its own
name. Poseidon always remained the special god of Mantineia, and his
emblem, the trident, was the scutcheon on the shields of the Mantineians
(Frazer, Paus., vol. iv. p. 217; B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XXXIV; Lambros,
Pelop., Pl. XIV; Babelon, Traité, pp. 862 ff.).
The bear refers to the myth of Kallisto, the mother of Arkas, who
was transformed into a bear by Hera. The acorns remind us of the oak
forest, Pelasgos, which encompassed the temple of Poseidon Hippios
(Paus. viii. 9. 1). The Arcadians are called by Herodotus (i. 66) βαλα-
νηφαγοι ανδρες, because they lived upon the edible acorn of the beech-oak
(Zeit. f. Num., 1873, p. 125).
In B.C. 385 Mantineia was razed to the ground by the Spartans, and its
inhabitants dispersed among the neighbouring villages. After the city
was rebuilt, B.C. 370, its coins bear the following interesting types:—
After B.C. 370.
ΜΑΝΤΙ Bearded figure of Odysseus
wearing conical pileus and tunic
gathered up at waist, standing with
bent knees in the act of planting his
oar in the ground, and carrying a
spear.
Altar of Poseidon (αναξ, ιππιος) sur-
mounted by two busts of the Dioskuri
wearing conical hats and holding
spears over their shoulders.
AR Drachm.
Bearded helmeted head.
ΜΑΝΤΙ Head of Kallisto (?) with flow-
ing hair.
AR Dr.
ΜΑΝΤΙ Head of Athena.
[B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XXXIV. 29;
XXXV. 1.]
The first of these coins refers to the myth of Odysseus fixing his oar in
450
the ground in the country of the men who knew not the sea, according to
the prophecy of Teiresias (Od. xi. 121), before performing his sacrifice
to Poseidon, whose altar, surmounted by the busts of his ministers, the
Dioskuri, is seen on the reverse (Paus. viii. 9. 2). These types plainly
indicate the country, not mentioned in Homer, to which Odysseus went
in search of a wayfarer who should mistake his oar for a threshing
flail (Svoronos, Gaz. Arch., 1888; B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XXXIV. 23;
Lambros, Pelop., Pl. XIV. 14).
Head of Athena. (See also Imhoof,
Mon. gr., 198 sqq.)
ΜΑΝ Odysseus as above, or Trident.
Æ .65
Odysseus as above.
[B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XXXV. 3.]
In B.C. 222 Mantineia was captured by Antigonus Doson, and its
name changed to Antigoneia, under which designation it struck federal
coins as a member of the Achaean League (see p. 418).
Pausanias informs us that in the reign of Hadrian the old name of the
city was restored to it.
Megalopolis, founded circ. B.C. 370, under the auspices of Epaminon-
das, as the capital of the new Arcadian League, struck festival or federal
money in the name of the entire body of the Arcadians down to, and
perhaps during, Macedonian times (see supra, p. 444). The subsequent
issues are as follows :—
Third and Second centuries B.C.
Head of Zeus Lykaeos.
[B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XXXV. 10-13.]
The above coins belong apparently to the age of the tyranny of
Aristodemus at Megalopolis. After his assassination, B.C. 251, by De-
mophanes and Ecdemus, the disciples of the philosopher Arcesilaus,
the federal constitution was for a time restored, and bronze coins issued
at Megalopolis with the Arcadian monogram.
But in B.C. 244 Megalopolis again fell into the hands of a tyrant by
name Lydiadas, and the issue of coins reading ΜΕΓ as above was resumed
and perhaps continued after Megalopolis joined the Achaean League,
B.C. 234. For coins of the League see p. 418.
451
Imperial—Severus to Elagabalus. Inscr., ΜЄΓΑΛΟΠΟΛЄΙΤΩΝ.
Types—Pan, Artemis, Apollo, Herakles, Zeus seated to front. Games—
ΛΥΚΑΙΑ or ΛΥΚЄΛ (N. C., 1893, 22; Paus. viii. 2. 1; 38. 4).
Methydrium, a town in central Arcadia founded from Orchomenus.
Its inhabitants were transplanted to Megalopolis in B.C. 370, but sub-
sequently the place became once more independent, when it struck
bronze coins. Inscr., ΜΕΘΥΔΡΙΕΩΝ. Type—Kallisto pierced by the
arrow of Artemis, her child Arkas on the ground beside her (Lambros,
Pelop., Pl. XV. 3). See also Achaean League (p. 418).
Orchomenus. The ancient capital of a royal dynasty which in early
times ruled over the greater part of Arcadia. The town stood aloof
from the confederacy of the Arcadians on the foundation of Megalopolis,
B.C. 370 (Xen. Hell. vi. 5. 11). Its coins belong to the period imme-
diately following that event.
Artemis clad in short chiton with petasos
slung behind her back, kneeling on
one knee and shooting arrow from
bow; behind her, a dog seated.
[B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XXXV. 15.]
ΕΡΧΟΜΕΝΙΩΝ Kallisto falling back
pierced in the breast by arrow of
Artemis; on the ground beside her,
the infant Arkas stretching out his
arms towards his mother.
Ε Ρ Armed figure standing at rest with
spear held obliquely.
Æ .7
The story of the death of Kallisto as represented on these coins differs
from the common version of the tale, according to which Kallisto was
first transformed by Hera into a she-bear and then slain by Artemis
(Dion Halic., Ant. Rom., i. 49).
Imperial—Severus to Geta. Inscr., ΟΡΧΟΜЄΝΙΩΝ. Types—
Asklepios, Apollo, Herakles, Dionysos, Artemis, Poseidon, Herakles
holding kantharos over his shoulder instead of his club and standing
beside a satyr, Aphrodite holding apple, Tyche.
Pallantium. An ancient town in the district of Maenalia founded by
Pallas, son of Lykaon.
Parrhasia was the district of which the ancient city of Lycosura was
the capital. Coins may have been struck there in the name of the
Parrhasians. A less probable attribution is the small town of Paroreia
(Imh., Mon. gr., 204).
Male figure standing at rest with one
foot on rock.
„ Id.
AR Obol.
452
Pheneus, in the north-east of Arcadia, would appear, from the number
of its coins still extant, to have been a place of considerable importance
in the fourth century B.C. Pausanias (viii. 14. 10) tells us that Hermes
was the god especially worshipped there. At Pheneus there was also
a temple of Demeter Eleusinia (Paus. viii. 15. 1). The heads of both
these divinities and the ram, the emblem of Hermes, occur on the coins.
The head of Demeter crowned with corn-leaves is a close copy of the
famous type first introduced by Euainetos of Syracuse. Cf. also con-
temporary staters of the Locri Opuntii and of the Messenians.
The reversetype of the stater refers to the myth of the rescue of
the child of Kallisto by Hermes, who took him to the nymph Maia on
Mount Cyllene to be brought up (Apollod. iii. 8. 2). The style of this
coin shows that the artist was strongly influenced by the school of
Praxiteles.
The feeding horse on the bronze coins is the emblem of Poseidon
Hippios, whose statue at Pheneus was said to have been dedicated by
Odysseus, απολεσθαι γαρ ιππους τω ‘Οδυσσει, και αυτον γην την Ελλαδα κατα
ζητησιν επιοντα των ιππων, ιδρυσασθαι μεν ιερον ενταυθα ‘Αρτεμιδος, και
Ευριππαν ονομασαι την θεον, ενθα της Φενεατικης χωρας ευρε τας ιππους
αναθειναι δε και του Ποσειδωνος το αγαλμα του Ιππιου. Pausanias (viii.
14. 6) further relates that when Odysseus had found his mares he allowed
them to pasture in the land of the Pheneatae. For other varieties of coins
of Pheneus see Imhoof, Mon. gr., p. 205. Among them is a curious coin
of a late period reading ΕΠΙ ΙΕΡΕΟΣ ΕΡΜΑΞΟΟΥ.
Psophis, in the narrow valley of the river Erymanthus, where it is
joined by its tributary the Aroanius, was the scene of the contest of
Herakles with the Erymanthian boar and the Keryneian stag.
Of this city there are archaic silver coins of the fifth century (see
Imhoof, Zeit. f. Num., i. pp. 117, 123).
The Keryneian stag, and on later coins the boar, were doubtless chosen
as coin-types referring to the labours of Herakles. The river Aroanius
was famed for its wonderful fish, which were said to sing like thrushes, a
fable which is believed by the peasants of the neighbourhood to the present
day (Frazer, Paus., iv. 265). Pausanias, who half credited the story, tells
us how he saw the fish, but did not hear them utter a sound, though he
tarried on the river bank till sunset, when they were said to sing most
(Paus. viii. 21. 2).
Imperial—Severus to Geta. Inscr., ΨΩΦΙΔΙΩΝ or ΨΩΦЄΙΔΙΩΝ.
Types—River Erymanthos, Artemis, Pan, Dionysos.
Stymphalus. The ancient city of Stymphalus was situated in the
immediate vicinity of a lake, a river, and a mountain all bearing the
same name, and a few miles south-east of Pheneus. It derived its name
from Stymphalos, a grandson of Arkas. It is chiefly celebrated as the
scene of the destruction by Herakles of the Stymphalian birds, which
are described by Pausanias (viii. 22) as being as large as cranes and in
form resembling the ibis, but with stronger beaks and not crooked like
those of the ibis. They were said to have been as dangerous as lions or
leopards, and to have flown at even armed men who came to hunt them.
In Stymphalus there was an ancient temple of Artemis Stymphalia,
under the roof of which the Stymphalian birds were represented. At
the back of this temple stood marble statues of virgins with the legs of
birds. The following coins were doubtless struck during festivals of the
Stymphalian Artemis (Paus. viii. 22. 8).
Tegea occupied the large valley in the south-east corner of Arcadia.
The local mythology of the town is abundantly illustrated on its coins.
(For illustrations see B. M. C., Pelop., Pl. XXXVII. 6-21, and Imhoof
and Gardner, Paus., Pl. V. 20-24.)
It is to this period that a specimen of what looks like money of iron
must be attributed. Obv.Gorgon head, Rev. ΤΕΓΕ (?) Owl (Atth. Mitth.
vii. 377). See also Argos and Heraea.
ΤΕΓΕΑΤΑΝ Warrior, Kepheus (?),
charging, armed with helmet, shield,
and sword; on the ground, between
his legs, a spear and ΑΡΚ (?).
AR Triobol.
Id. [Zeit. f. Num., ix. Pl. II. 9.]
ΤΕΓΕΑ Kepheus (?) charging as above;
between legs ΑΡΚ.
Æ .75
The type of the charging warrior is almost identical with that of Ajax
on the contemporary coins of the Opuntian Locrians and with that of
Leukaspis on somewhat earlier coins of Syracuse.
ΤΕΓΕΑΤΑΝ Athena presenting hair
of Medusa to Sterope as above, but
the coin is of later fabric. In field,
magistrates’ monograms.
Æ .75
ΑΛΕΟΣ Head of Aleos bearded and
diademed.
ΤΕΓΕΑΤΑΝ Athena and Kepheus both
armed; between them, Sterope receiv-
ing the hair of Medusa in an amphora.
Æ .9
Imperial—Severus, Domna, Caracalla, and Geta. Inscr., ΤЄΓЄΑΤΑΝ.
Types—Atalanta spearing Kalydonian boar; Athena; Terminal figure of
Herakles; Warrior, Kepheus (?) standing.
The myths referred to on the above interesting coins are the following.
Aleos, one of the grandsons of Arkas, was the founder of the city of
Tegea, and of the famous temple of Athena Alea, a full description of
which is given by Pausanias (viii. 45). His daughter Auge became the
mother by Herakles of Telephos who, by command of Aleos, was exposed
on Mount Parthenium. Here he was suckled by a hind. The τεμενος of
Telephos was still shown on the mountain in the time of Pausanias.
The son of Aleos was Kepheus, who on the silver coins is represented
precisely as is Ajax, the son of Oïleus, on the coins of Opus (p. 336). The
incident recorded on the bronze coins is related by Pausanias (viii. 47)
Τεγεαταις δε εστι και αλλο ιερον ‘Αθηνας Πολιατιδος εκαστου δε απαξ ετους
ιερευς ες αυτο εσεισι. το του ‘Ερυματος ιερον ονομαζουσι, λεγοντες ως Κηφει τω
456
‘Αλεου γενοιτο δωρεα παρα ‘Αθηνας αναλωτον ες τον παντα χρονον ειναι Τεγεαν
και αυτω φασιν ες φυλακην της πολεως αποτεμουσαν την θεον δουναι τριχων
των Μεδουσης. Apollodorus (ii. 7) tells the story in greater detail, and
says that Sterope, the daughter of Kepheus, received the hair in a brazen
hydria.
Thaliadae is mentioned by Paus. viii. 25. 2 among other small places
in the territory of Cleitor, on the upper course of the river Ladon. The
following archaic coins have been assigned to it, but the attribution is
very doubtful.
Hermes running, holding caduceus.
[Babelon, Traité, Pl. XXXVIII. 21.]
Incuse square divided into six triangles
by diagonal and upright bars.
AR Tetrobol, 61 grs.
ΘΑΙ (?) Hermes running holding
caduceus. [N. C., 1888, Pl. V. 6.]
Thelpusa took its name from the nymph Thelpusa, daughter of the
river Ladon, an affluent of the Alpheius in western Arcadia. Demeter
was worshipped at Thelpusa under the name of Erinys (Paus. viii. 25),
and on the banks of the Ladon arose the myth of the pursuit of Demeter
by Poseidon, when, to escape him, she assumed the form of a mare. But
the god was not to be so deceived, and transformed himself into a horse.
The offspring of this union was the wondrous horse Areion, in the
Arcadian dialect Εριων. (See Zeit. f. Num., i. p. 125.)
Imperial—Severus to Geta. Inscr., ΘЄΛΠΟΥCΙΩΝ Types—Young
Pan resting on lagobolon and placing his hand on the top of a reed.
This type has been explained by Imhoof-Blumer (Zeit. f. Num., i. 134). It
represents Pan in the act of seizing the nymph Syrinx, who in the same
instant was transformed into a reed, ‘Ο Παν ουν εδιοκεν αυτην δρομον
ερωτικον, την δ’ υλη τις δεχεται δασεια φευγουσαν. ‘Ο δε Παν κατa ποδας
εισθορων, ωρεγε την χειρα ως επ’ αυτην. Και ο μεν ωετο τεθηρακεναι και
εχεσθαι των τριχων, καλαμων δε κομην ειχεν η χειρ. (Achilles Tatius, viii. 6.)
For other types see Imhoof and Gardner, Paus., p. 102.
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between the legs of a triskeles.
(the 
between legs.
Σ Tripod. 
in 
, 
ΑDΙ
, ΑΡΚΑΔΙΚΟΝ, &c. 
Ο, 
Ο, or XΟ
Ι (?) 
