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Histiaea

The |first coins|which can be with certainty attributed to Histiaea belong to the half-century before Alexander. It’s interesting to note that the vines which had obtained for the town, as early as Homer’s days, the epithet πολυσταφυλος occupy an important place on the coins. (R. Weil, Z. f. N., i. 183.)

»WW »SNG B »ANS

Circ. B.C. 369-336.

Head of Maenad, wearing vine-wreath.
[B. M. C., Cent. Gr., Pl. XXIV. 1.]

ΙΣΤΙ Bull, standing before a vine with grapes; symbol or monogram in field.

AR Dr.

Id. [Ibid., Pl. XXIV. 3-5.]

ΙΣΤΙ Bull, forepart of bull, or bull's head and neck; various symbols above.

Æ .6

 

Circ. B.C. 313-265.

The next issue of Histiaean coins probably took place after the Euboean towns declared themselves independent in B.C. 313, but it does not seem to have been of long duration.

Head of Maenad, with vine-wreath; her hair in sphendone. [Zeit. f. Num., i. p. 186; Photiades Cat., 484.]

ΙΣΤΙΑΙΕΩΝ Nymph Histiaea with her name ΙΣΤΙΑΙΑ, seated on stern of galley and holding a trophy-stand or mast with yard (?)

AR Octobol 89 grs.

Id. [B. M. C., Cent. Gr., Pl. XXIV. 6.]

Id., without name of nymph.

AR Tetrob. 42 grs.

Id. [Hunter Cat., Pl. XXXIII. 14.]

ΙΣΤΙ Bull standing; behind, vine.

Æ .75

Id. [Ibid., Pl. XXIV. 8.]

  „  Bull’s head and neck.

Æ .65

Head of Dionysos, facing.

  „  Vine-branch.

Æ .55

 

Circ. B.C. 197-146, and later (?).

The silver coins of this time are remarkably abundant, and consist of tetrobols similar in type to those of the previous century, but very carelessly executed and varying in weight from 39 to 28 grs. The head of the Maenad is almost identical with that on contemporaneous tetrobols of Macedonia, struck between B.C. 185 and 168 during the reigns of Philip V and Perseus. In the Inventory of Demares, compiled B.C. 185-180 (Bull. Corr. Hell., 1882, p. 35), these coins are called Ιστιαικα and αργυριον Ιστιαικον. For varieties see B. M. C., Cent. Gr., Pl. XXIV. The commonest bronze coins of this period are the following :—

Head of Maenad.

ΙΣΤΙ Head and neck of bull, horns filleted.

Æ .55

Similar. [B. M. C., Cent. Gr., Pl. XXIV. 15, 16.]

ΙΣΤΙΑΙΕΩΝ Grapes.

Æ .65

Head of Apollo (?).

  „  Tripod.

Æ .45


365

Uncertain Coins of Euboïc weight.

Sixth century B.C.

Scarabaeus.
[Babelon, Traité, p. 719.]

Incuse square diagonally divided

AR Didrachm and Obol.

Id. [Imhoof and Keller, Tier- und Pflanzenbilder, Pl. VII. 13.]

Id.

AR Obol.

Id. [Ibid., Pl. VII. 14.]

Gorgoneion.

AR Size .4 Diob. (?)

Frog swimming. [Babelon, Traité, Pl. XXXIII. 21, 22.]

Incuse square diagonally divided.

AR Obol.

Amphora in plain circle.
[Brit. Mus. Guide, Pl. V. 22.]

Id.

AR Didr. 128 grs.

Triskeles in plain circle.
[N. C., 1888, Pl. V. 1, 2.]

Id.

AR Didr. 125 grs., Dr., and ½ Dr.

Astragalos in plain circle.
[N. C., 1903, Pl. X. 6.]

Id.

AR Didr. 130 grs.

These coins belong to the same class as those with the Wheel, attributed to Chalcis, the Gorgoneion to Eretria, and the Horse to Cyme, etc.

 

Histiaea

Histiaea. The first coins which can be with certainty attributed to Histiaea belong to the half-century before Alexander. It’s interesting to note that the vines which had obtained for the town, as early as Homer’s days, the epithet πολυσταφυλος occupy an important place on the coins. (R. Weil, Z. f. N., i. 183.)

»WW »SNG B »ANS

Circ. B.C. 369-336.

Head of Maenad, wearing vine-wreath.
[B. M. C., Cent. Gr., Pl. XXIV. 1.]
ΙΣΤΙ Bull, standing before a vine with grapes; symbol or monogram in field.
AR Dr.
Id. [Ibid., Pl. XXIV. 3-5.] ΙΣΤΙ Bull, forepart of bull, or bull's head and neck; various symbols above.
Æ .6

Circ. B.C. 313-265.

The next issue of Histiaean coins probably took place after the Euboean towns declared themselves independent in B.C. 313, but it does not seem to have been of long duration.

Head of Maenad, with vine-wreath; her hair in sphendone. [Zeit. f. Num., i. p. 186; Photiades Cat., 484.] ΙΣΤΙΑΙΕΩΝ Nymph Histiaea with her name ΙΣΤΙΑΙΑ, seated on stern of galley and holding a trophy-stand or mast with yard (?)
AR Octobol 89 grs.
Id. [B. M. C., Cent. Gr., Pl. XXIV. 6.] Id., without name of nymph.
AR Tetrob. 42 grs.
Id. [Hunter Cat., Pl. XXXIII. 14.] ΙΣΤΙ Bull standing; behind, vine.
Æ .75
Id. [Ibid., Pl. XXIV. 8.]   „  Bull’s head and neck.
Æ .65
Head of Dionysos, facing.   „  Vine-branch.
Æ .55

Circ. B.C. 197-146, and later (?).

The silver coins of this time are remarkably abundant, and consist of tetrobols similar in type to those of the previous century, but very carelessly executed and varying in weight from 39 to 28 grs. The head of the Maenad is almost identical with that on contemporaneous tetrobols of Macedonia, struck between B.C. 185 and 168 during the reigns of Philip V and Perseus. In the Inventory of Demares, compiled B.C. 185-180 (Bull. Corr. Hell., 1882, p. 35), these coins are called Ιστιαικα and αργυριον Ιστιαικον. For varieties see B. M. C., Cent. Gr., Pl. XXIV. The commonest bronze coins of this period are the following :—

Head of Maenad. ΙΣΤΙ Head and neck of bull, horns filleted.
Æ .55
Similar. [B. M. C., Cent. Gr., Pl. XXIV. 15, 16.] ΙΣΤΙΑΙΕΩΝ Grapes.
Æ .65
Head of Apollo (?).   „  Tripod.
Æ .45


365

Uncertain Coins of Euboïc weight.

Sixth century B.C.

Scarabaeus.
[Babelon, Traité, p. 719.]
Incuse square diagonally divided
AR Didrachm and Obol.
Id. [Imhoof and Keller, Tier- und Pflanzenbilder, Pl. VII. 13.] Id.
AR Obol.
Id. [Ibid., Pl. VII. 14.] Gorgoneion.
AR Size .4 Diob. (?)
Frog swimming. [Babelon, Traité, Pl. XXXIII. 21, 22.] Incuse square diagonally divided.
AR Obol.
Amphora in plain circle.
[Brit. Mus. Guide, Pl. V. 22.]
Id.
AR Didr. 128 grs.
Triskeles in plain circle.
[N. C., 1888, Pl. V. 1, 2.]
Id.
AR Didr. 125 grs., Dr., and ½ Dr.
Astragalos in plain circle.
[N. C., 1903, Pl. X. 6.]
Id.
AR Didr. 130 grs.

These coins belong to the same class as those with the Wheel, attributed to Chalcis, the Gorgoneion to Eretria, and the Horse to Cyme, etc.