"Diogenes [the Cynic] was a native of
Sinope, son of Hicesius, a banker. Diocles relates that he went into exile because
his father was entrusted with the
money of the state and adulterated the coinage. But Eubulides in
his book on Diogenes says that Diogenes himself did this and was forced to leave
home along with
his father. Moreover Diogenes himself actually confesses in
his 'Pordalus' that he adulterated the coinage. Some say that having been appointed to superintend the workman he was persuaded by them, and that he went to
Delphi or to the Delian oracle in
his own city and inquired of
Apollo whether he should do what he was urged to do. When the god gave him permission to alter the political currency, not understanding what this meant, he adulterated the state coinage, and when he was detected, according to some he was banished, while according to others he voluntarily quoted the city for fear of consequences. One version is that
his father entrusted him with the
money and that he debased it, in consequence of which
his father was imprisoned and died, while the son fled, came to
Delphi, and inquired, not whether he should falsify the coinage, but what he should do to gain the greatest reputation; and that then it was that he received the oracle." Book VI. 20-21 from Diogenes Laertius "On the Lives, Opinions, and Sayings of Famous Philosophers" or "
History of Philosophy" tr. by R. D. Hicks Loeb
Library, 1965.
Diogenes Laertius (earlier half of 3rd c. BC) is the author of the only
History of Philosophy to have survived from
antiquity, Diogenes Laertius is _not_ the same person as Diogenes the Cynic, of
Sinope.
I believe Michael Marotta (sp?) wrote about a coin he
had that was slightly debased, and
had the
inscription Dio or Diog, not Hikesios. Again, I can't find the article, but I believe that he made
his case very well that there was something to the
legend, (or should we say, legend_s_ because obviously, there are multiple versions). I tried looking up the article by
Callatay, but I must confess that like many Americans, my foreign language background is very spotty (in other words, inadequate). I don't know if Diogenes Laertius is the only source from
antiquity on Diogenes the Cynic counterfeiting (defacing or debasing) the currency, but here (above) is the translation of the most relevant passage that I know.
Kind Regards,
John