06.01.2013 Views

A guide to the principal gold and silver coins of the ancients ...

A guide to the principal gold and silver coins of the ancients ...

A guide to the principal gold and silver coins of the ancients ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

B.C. 400-336. 37<br />

III. A.<br />

Plates 18-20.<br />

Plate 18. 1. Persia. A/ . Obv. King kneeling with bow <strong>and</strong> dagger. Hev.<br />

Incuse. Daric. Wt. 128 grs.<br />

2. Persia. AI. Obv. Youthful king with bow <strong>and</strong> spear. Hev.<br />

Incuse. (Countermarked.) Daric. Wt. 126'8 grs.<br />

3. Persia. JR. Obv. Half-length figure <strong>of</strong> king with bow <strong>and</strong> arrows.<br />

Hev. Incuse. Siglus. Wt. 82 grs.<br />

4-7. Cyzicus. EL. staters (wt. 248 grs.) <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> best period <strong>of</strong> art.<br />

No. 7, with <strong>the</strong> head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> veiled Demeter, is especially<br />

beautiful. The incuse reverse <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se <strong>coins</strong> is a survival<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> archaic style which prevailed when <strong>the</strong> electrum<br />

coinage <strong>of</strong> Cyzicus commenced.<br />

8. Cyzicus. M. Obv. ZDTEl PA. Head <strong>of</strong> Demeter or Persephone.<br />

Jiev. KYI I. Lion's head, <strong>and</strong> tunny. Wt. 232-5 grs.<br />

One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> gems <strong>of</strong> Greek art, but unfortunately slightly<br />

worn.<br />

9-13. Hectae, <strong>of</strong> electrum, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> period <strong>of</strong> finest art.<br />

Wt. about 40 grs.<br />

Many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>wns <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> western coast <strong>of</strong> Asia Minor<br />

belonged <strong>to</strong> a monetary league. These hectae, <strong>the</strong> currency<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> union, were probably issued sometimes at one<br />

mint, sometimes at ano<strong>the</strong>r.<br />

14. Abydos. A/". Obv. Nike sacrificing ram. Eev. Eagle ; symbol,<br />

aplustre, <strong>the</strong> whole in incuse square. Wt. 129 grs.<br />

Abydos, on <strong>the</strong> Asiatic side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Hellespont, began,<br />

like Lampsacus, <strong>to</strong> coin money in pure <strong>gold</strong> about <strong>the</strong><br />

year 400 or perhaps a little earlier. There were <strong>gold</strong><br />

mines within <strong>the</strong> terri<strong>to</strong>ry <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> city.<br />

15-19. Lampsacus. Af. Obverses. (15) Head <strong>of</strong> Maenad; wt.<br />

1307 grs. (16) Demeter rising from <strong>the</strong> soil; wt. 129-3 grs.<br />

(17) Head <strong>of</strong> Odysseus (?) in conical laureate hat ; wt. 129-1 grs.<br />

(18) Head <strong>of</strong> Bacchante with pointed ear; wt. 128-5 grs.<br />

(19) Nike erecting a trophy ; wt. 130-2 grs. Reverses. Half sea-<br />

horse.<br />

The <strong>gold</strong> <strong>coins</strong> <strong>of</strong> Lampsacus, which superseded <strong>the</strong><br />

older electrum staters (cf. 11. A. 23) about <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> fifth century B.C., continued <strong>to</strong> be issued until about

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!