Part 9

Dates are not found on Greek coins before the age of Alexander the Great, and even after his time they are of rare occurrence, except on certain Asiatic series and on the money of Egypt. They are usually placed either in the field or the exergue of the coin.

Units. A. B. Γ. Δ. E. ς. Ζ. H. Θ.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Tens. I. Κ. Λ. Μ. Ν. Ξ. Ο. Π. κοππα

10. 20. 30. 40. 50. 60. 70. 80. 90.

Hundreds. P. Σ. Τ. Υ. Φ. Χ. Ψ. Ω. σαμπι

100. 200. 300. 400. 500. 600. 700. 800. 900.

They are sometimes preceded by the word ΕΤΟΥΣ, thus, ΕΤΟΥΣ ΡΚΔ = _Anno_ 124. On the coinage of Egypt, both under the Ptolemies and under the Roman Emperors, the character [L] is used instead of the word ΕΤΟΥΣ, thus, ΛΓ = _Anno_ 33. This character was probably an ancient Egyptian symbol meaning _year_, adopted into the Greek system of numeration for the sake of brevity. The following are a few of the many epochs or _æras_ according to which coins are dated:--

The Seleucid æra begins B.C. 312. The Pompeian " B.C. 63. The Cæsarian " B.C. 48 or 47. The Augustan or Actian æra begins B.C. 31.

§ OF THE DENOMINATIONS OF GREEK COINS.

The unit of account in Greece was the _drachm_. The weight of the drachm was not everywhere identical. It ranged, as a rule, between about 55 and 95 grs. troy. For purposes of calculation it may be taken in a general way as the ancient equivalent of our modern shilling or franc.

Of the various standards of weight which prevailed in different parts of the Greek world, the _Attic standard_ was the most widely diffused. The weights of the various denominations, according to this standard, are as follows:--

The Talent = 405,000 grs. troy } not { = 6,000 drachms. " Mina (1/60 of the Talent } coined { = 6,750 grs. troy) } { = 100 drachms. " Tetradrachm = 270 grs. troy = 4 drachms. " Didrachm = 135 " " = 2 " " Drachm = 67·5 " " = 1 " " Tetrobol = 45 " " = 4 obols. " Triobol = 33·75 " " = 1/2 drachm or 3 obols. " Diobol = 22·5 " " = 2 obols. " Trihemiobol = 16·8 " " = 1-1/2 obols. " Obol = 11·25 " " = 1 obol. " Hemiobol = 5·62 " " = 1/2 " " Tetartemorion = 2·81 " " = 1/4 "

The other standards are the _Æginetic_ (drachm 97 grs.); the _Phœnician_ (drachm 56 grs.); the _Rhodian_ (drachm 60 grs.); the _Persian_ (drachm 88 grs.). The other denominations of the above standards may be easily got at by multiplying or dividing the drachms as in the Attic standard.

Larger denominations than the tetradrachm are rare, but octadrachms, decadrachms, etc., etc., occur at some towns. The unit in copper was called the _chalkous_; but its weight does not appear to have been definitely fixed like that of the silver drachm.

The Attic gold money was regulated according to the same standard of weight as the silver. The gold unit of account was, however, not the drachm, but the _stater_, as it was called, equivalent in weight to the didrachm, and in value to 20 drachms of silver.

As a rule, the denomination of a Greek coin can only be determined by weighing it. Marks of value occur, however, on the copper of Italy, Sicily, etc.; but these coins follow a system foreign to Greece proper (see below).

§ OF THE ARRANGEMENT OF A CABINET OF

GREEK COINS.

Greek coins are classified in all great collections in geographical order, as follows:--The towns under each province should be arranged alphabetically, for convenience of reference. We have only space here to mention a few of the principal cities:--

EUROPE.

_Provinces._ _Cities_, _Islands_, _Tribes_, _Kings_, _etc._ SPAIN. Lusitania Emerita. Bætica Carteia, Gades. Tarraconensis Emporiæ, Osca, Rhoda, etc. GAUL. Aquitania Arverni. Narbonensis Massilia, Nemausus. Lugdunensis Lugdunum. Belgica BRITAIN. Atrebates, etc., Camulodunum. ITALIA. Etruria Populonia. Umbria Tuder. Picenum Hatria. Vestini Latium Roma. Samnium Beneventum. Frentani Larinum. Campania Capua, Cumæ, Neapolis, Nola. Apulia Arpi, Cælia, Teate, Venusia. Calabria Brundusium, Tarentum. Lucania Metapotum, Posidonia, Thurium, Velia. Bruttii Croton, Locri, Rhegium, Terina. SICILY. Agrigentum, Camarina, Gela, Himera, Leontini, Messana, Naxos, Segesta, Selinus, and Syracuse. _Kings, etc., of_ Agathocles, Hicetas, Hiero II., Philistis, Gelo, Hieronymus. Siculo-Punic Solus, Motya, Panormus. _Islands of Sicily_ Lipara, Sardinia. TAURIC CHERSONESE Panticapæum. SARMATIA Olbia, Tyra. DACIA. MŒSIA SUPERIOR Viminacium. MŒSIA INFERIOR Istrus, Marcianopolis, Nicopolis, Tomi. THRACE Abdera, Ænus, Byzantium, Maronea, Perinthus, Philippopolis. THRACIAN CHERSONESE Cardia, Cœla, Lysimachia. _Kings of Thrace_ Seuthes, etc., Rhœmetalces, etc. _Islands of Thrace_ Imbros, Lemnos, Samothrace, Thasos. PÆONIA, _Kings_ Lycceius, Patraus, Audoleon. MACEDON, _Cities_ Acanthus, Amphipolis, Chalcidice, Lete, Neapolis, Pella, Philippi, Pydna, Thessalonica. _Tribes_ Bisaltæ, Orrescii. _Kings of_ Alexander I., Perdiccas II., Archelaus I., Amyntas III., Philip II., Alexander the Great, Philip III., Cassander, Lysimachus, Demetrius I., Antigonus I. and II., Philip V., Perseus. THESSALY Ænianes, Crannon, Larissa, Pharsalus, Pheræ. ILLYRICUM Apollonia, Dyrrachium. EPIRUS Cassope, Damastium, Nicopolis. _Island of_ Corcyra. _Kings of_ Alexander I., Pyrrhus. ACARNANIA Œniadæ, Thyrreum. _Island of_ Leucas.

ÆTOLIA Federal coins.

LOCRIS Opus, Amphissa.

PHOCIS Delphi.

BŒOTIA Coronea, Haliartus, Orchomenus, Tanagra, Thebes, Thespiæ. ATTICA Athens, Eleusis. _Islands of_ Eubœa (with its towns, Chalcis, Carystus, Eretria, Histiæa), Salamis. MEGARA. ÆGINA. ACHÆA Ægium, etc., Corinth, Patræ, Phlius, Sicyon. ELIS Elis. _Islands of Elis_ Cephallenia, Zacynthus. MESSENIA Messene. LACONIA Lacedæmon. ARGOLIS Argos, Epidaurus, Trœzen. ARCADIA Heræa, Megalopolis, Pheneus, Stymphalus. CRETE Cnossus, Gortyna, Hierapytna, Phæstus. ÆGEAN ISLANDS Ceos, Naxos, Siphnos, Syros, Tenos, etc.

ASIA.

_Provinces._ _Cities, Islands, Tribes, Kings, etc._ BOSPORUS Phanagoria. COLCHIS Dioscurias. PONTUS Amisus, Amasia, Trapezus. _Kings of Pontus_ } Mithradates IV., Pharnaces I., Mithradates _and Bosporus_ } VI. the Great, etc. PAPHLAGONIA Amastris, Sinope. BITHYNIA Chalcedon, Cius, Heraclea (Timotheus, Dionysius, Amastris). _Kings of_ Nicomedes I., II., and III., Prusias I., II. MYSIA Cyzicus, Lampsacus, Pergamus. _Kings of Pergamus_ Philetaerus, the Attalids. TROAS Abydos, Alexandria, Troas, Ilium, Scepsis. _Island of Troas_ Tenedos. ÆOLIS Cyme, Myrina, Temnos. _Islands of Æolis_ Lesbos (Methymna, Mytilene). IONIA Clazomenæ, Colophon, Ephesus, Erythræ, Magnesia, Miletus, Smyrna. _Islands of Ionia_ Chios, Samos. CARIA Cnidus, Halicarnassus, Stratonicæa. _Kings of Caria_ Hecatomnus, Mausolus, Hidrieus, Pixodarus. _Islands of Caria_ Calymna, Cos, Rhodes Ialysus, Camirus, Lindus. LYCIA Cragus, Myra, Patara, Phaselis, etc. PAMPHYLIA Aspendus, Perga, Side. PISIDIA Antiochia, Sagalassus, Selge. ISAURIA AND LYCAONIA Iconium, etc. CILICIA Celenderis, Mallus, Soli, Tarsus, etc. CYPRUS Paphos, Salamis. _Kings of Cyprus_ Baalmelek, Azbaal, Evagoras, Nicocles, etc. LYDIA Sardes, Tralles, etc. PHRYGIA Apamea, Cibyra, etc. GALATIA Ancyra, Pessinus, etc. _Kings of Galatia_ Amyntas, etc. CAPPADOCIA Cæsarea, etc. _Kings of Cappadocia_ Ariarathes, Ariobarzanes, etc. ARMENIA, _Kings of_ Tigranes, Artavazdes, etc. SYRIA, _Kings of_ Seleucus I. (Nicator), Antiochus I. (Soter), Antiochus III. (the Great), etc., etc. COMMAGENE Samosata, Zeugma. CYRRHESTICA Berœa, Hierapolis. CHALCIDENE Chalcis. SELEUCIS and PIERIA Antioch. CŒLE-SYRIA Damascus, Heliopolis, Laodicea ad Libanum. TRACHONITIS with ITURÆA Cæsarea-Paneas. DECAPOLIS Canatha, Gadara, Philadelphia, etc. PHŒNICE Byblus, Marathus, Sidon, Tyre. _Island of_ Aradus. GALILÆA Ace (Ptolemais), Sepphoris (Diocæsarea), Tiberias. SAMARIA Cæsarea, Joppa, Sebaste. JUDÆA Ælia Capitolina (Jerusalem), Ascalon, etc. _Judæa, Kings of_ Simon Maccabæus, Alexander Jannæus, Herod the Great, Agrippa, etc., etc. ARABIA Bostra, Philippopolis. MESOPOTAMIA Carrhæ, Edessa (_Kings_--Mannus, Abgarus, etc.) BABYLONIA, _King of_ Timarchus. ASSYRIA Niniva (Claudiopolis). PARTHIA, _Kings of_ Arsaces I. and his Successors. PERSIA, _Kings of_ Darius, the son of Hystaspes, Xerxes, Artaxerxes, etc. BACTRIANA and Sophytes, Diodotus, Euthydemus. INDIA Demetrius, Eucratides, Heliocles, Euthydemus _Kings of_ II., Pantaleon, Agathocles, Antimachus, etc., etc. CHARACENE, _Kings of_ Tiræus, Artabazes, Attambilus, etc.

AFRICA.

_Provinces._ _Cities, Islands, Tribes, Kings, etc._ EGYPT, _The Ptolemaic_ { Ptolemy I. (Soter),--Ptolemy XIII. and _Kings of_. { Cleopatra. _Alexandria, Imperial_ M. Antony,--Galerius. _The Nomes_. CYRENAICA Cyrene, Barca. SYRTICA Leptis Magna, Oea. BYZACENE Hadrumetum, etc. ZEUGITANA Carthage, Utica, etc. NUMIDIA, _Kings of_ Jugurtha, etc. MAURETANIA Bocchus I., Juba II., etc.

The above list, although an outline of the barest description, may serve to give some idea of the ground which is covered by a collection of Greek and cognate coins.

It will also serve to warn the young collector against buying in a miscellaneous manner.

Let him take up some particular province; say, for example, Sicily, in which there were some fifty towns which struck coins. He will soon find that the numismatics of these fifty towns will be a field for study which will amply reward him for the labour he bestows upon it.

§ OF THE PRICES OF GREEK COINS.

The prices which Greek coins fetch at sales depend upon their rarity, their state of preservation, and their size, not much upon the artistic or the historical interest, or upon the metal of which they are composed. Thus, a gold coin of Alexander the Great, being common, may be obtained almost at metal value, while a rare copper coin of some obscure town in the heart of Phrygia may cost almost as many pounds as the gold coin of Alexander does shillings.

II. ROMAN COINS.

§ GENERAL CLASSIFICATION.

The coins of ancient Rome are not artistically as interesting as those of Greece. They are, however, most useful for all who desire to become acquainted with the history and institutions of the eternal city.

They may be divided into the following classes:--

_Coins of the Republic._

I. Heavy Bronze coins cast in a mould, _Æs Grave_. II. The so-called _Consular_ or _Family_ series, consisting of silver and bronze struck coins, together with a few gold pieces.

_Coins of the Empire._

III. Gold and silver, struck by the authority of the Emperor.

IV. Bronze (commonly called Large, Middle, and Small Brass), struck by authority of the Senate, and distinguishable by the letters S. C. (Senatus-Consulto).

V. Imperial medallions in all metals, not intended to circulate as money.

§ OF THE ÆS GRAVE.

(1) The _æs grave_ was the earliest money used in Rome and throughout the central and northern parts of the Italian peninsula. It consisted of the As (or unit) and its divisions and multiples, as follows:--

As. _Obv._ Head of Janus; _Rev._ Prow of ship. Mark of value I Semis (1/2 As). _Obv._ Hd. of Jupiter " " S Triens (1/3 As). " " Pallas " " .... Quadrans (1/4 As). _Obv._ Head of Hercules " " ... Sextans (1/6 As). " " Mercury " " .. Uncia (1/12 As). " " Roma " " .

MULTIPLES OF THE AS.

Dupondius (2 Asses). _O._ Hd. of _R._ Prow of Pallas; ship. Mark of value II Tripondius (3 Asses). " " " III Decussis (10 Asses). _O._ Head of Roma. " " X

The above types are those of the coins of Rome itself. The æs grave of the other Italian states had different types.

The As first issued in Rome is said to have weighed one pound, hence it was called the As Libralis. The earliest known specimens of the Libral series date from about B.C. 400. As time went on, it was gradually reduced in weight, at first to 4 ounces, about B.C. 268 (_Triental Reduction_), and subsequently, B.C. 217, to 1 ounce (_Uncial Reduction_), and somewhat later even to 1/2 an ounce.

§ OF THE SILVER “CONSULAR” COINAGE.

(2) Silver money was first struck in Rome about B.C. 268. It consisted of the following denominations:--

The Denarius (= 10 Asses). _Obv._ Head of Roma; _Rev._ The Dioscuri. Mark of value X The Quinarius (= 5 Asses). Similar types " V or Q The Sestertius (= 2-1/2 Asses). " " IIS

Afterwards another denomination called the Victoriatus was added: _Obv._ Head of Jupiter; _Rev._ Victory crowning a trophy. This was a coin of Campanian origin, and its value was 3/4 of the denarius. The types of the silver money, at first constant and uniform, were subsequently varied according to the pleasure of the officers entrusted with the supervision of the coinage. The types of the Roman denarii of the last century of the Republic generally contain allusions to past (but never or very rarely to contemporary) events connected with the family of the moneyer. Hence such pieces may be called Family coins, but to give this name to the whole series of Republican denarii is incorrect.

At first it is supposed that the direction of the Roman mint was entrusted to the Consuls themselves, but it was not long before special magistrates were appointed from time to time to superintend the currency. These Triumviri or Tresviri Monetales were officially designated as Tresviri auro argento aere flando feriundo, a title abbreviated on some coins to IIIVIR. A. A. A. F. F. The adjective Monetalis referred to the temple of Juno Moneta, in which the mint was situated, and from this epithet of Juno our modern word “Money” is derived.

It is usual, though not strictly scientific, to arrange a cabinet of Roman Republican denarii under the _family_ names of the moneyers, in alphabetical order. As the family name does not always occur upon the coin, the following table of surnames and of the families to which they belong will be found useful to the young collector in arranging his coins.

_Surname._ _Family._ Acisculus Valeria. Agrippa Luria. " Vipsania. Ahala Servilia. Ahenobarbus Domitia. Albinus Postumia. Antiaticus Mænia. Aquinus Cæcilia. Asiagenes Cornelia. Atratinus Sempronia. Augurinus Minucia. Bala Ælia. Balbus Acilia. " Antonia. " Atia. " Cornelia. " Nævia. " Thoria. Bassus Betiliena. Bibulus Calpurnia. Blandus Rubellia. Blasio Cornelia. Brocchus Furia. Brutus Junia. Buca Æmilia. Bursio Julia. Cæicianus Cassia. Cæpio Servilia. Cæsar Julia. Caldus Cœia. Capella Nævia. Capito Fonteia. " Maria. " Oppia. Capitolinus Petillia. Carbo Papiria. Casca Servilia. Cato Porcia. Catullus Valeria. Celer Cassia. Celsus Papia. Censorinus Marcia. Cerco Lutatia. Cestianus Plætoria. Cethegus Cornelia. Chilo, Cilo Flaminia. Cinna Cornelia. Cocles Horatia. Cordus Mucia. Cossus Cornelia. Costa Pedania. Cotta Aurelia. Crassipes Furia. Crassus Licinia. " Canidia. Crispinus Quinctia. Croto Metilia. Dossenus Rubria. Fabatus Roscia. Faustus Cornelia. Felix Cornelia. Flaccus Rutilia. " Valeria. Flavius Decimia. Florus Aquillia. Fostulus Pompeia. Frugi Calpurnia. Gal[eria] Memmia. Galba Sulpicia. Gallus Asinia. " Caninia. Geminus Aburia. Geta Hosidia. Grag[ulus] Antestia. Gracchus Sempronia. Hemic... Flavia. Hypsæus Plautia. Judex Vettia. Junianus Licinia. Kalenus Fufia. Labeo Fabia. Labienus Atia? Læca Porcia. Lamia Ælia. Lariscolus Accoleia. Lentulus Cornelia. Lepidus Æmilia. Libo Marcia. " Scribonia. Licinus Porcia. Limetanus Mamilia. Longinus Cassia. Longus Mussidia. Lucanus Terentia. Lupercus Gallia. Macer Licinia. " Sepullia. Magnus Pompeia. Malleolus Poblicia. Marcellinus Cornelia. Marcellus Claudia. Maridianus Cossutia. Maximus Egnatia. " Fabia. Mensor Farsuleia. Messalia Valeria. Metullus Cæcilia. Molo Pomponia. Murcus Statia. Murena Licinia. Mus Decia. Musa Pomponia. Naso Axia. Natta Pinaria. Nerva Cocceia. " Licinia. " Silia. Nomentanus Atilia. Nonianus Considia. Otho Salvia. Pætus Ælia. " Considia. Palikanus Lollia. Pansa Vibia. Paullus Æmilia. Philippus Marcia. Philus Furia. Pictor Fabia. Piso Calpurnia. Pitio Sempronia. Pius Cæcilia. " Pompeia. Plancus Munatia. " Plautia. Platorinus Sulpicia. Pulcher Claudia. Purpureo Fabia. Quinctilianus Nonia. Reginus Antistia. Regulus Livineia. Restio Antia. Rocus Creperia. Rufus Aurelia. " Cordia. " Lucilia. " Mescinia. " Minucia. " Plotia. " Pompeia. " Pomponia. " Sulpicia. Rullus Servilia. Rus[ticus] Aufidia. Sabinus Minatia. " Tituria. " Vettia. Sabula Cossutia. Salinator Oppia Saranus Atilia. Saserna Hostilia. Saturninus Appuleia. Saxula Clovia. Scæva Junia. Scarpus Pinaria. Scaurus Æmilia. " Aurelia. Scipio Cornelia. Secundus Arria. Ser ... Manlia. Silanus Junia. Silianus Licinia. Silus Sergia. Sisenna Cornelia. Spinther Cornelia. Stolo Licinia. Strabo Volteia. Sufenas Nonia. Sulla Cornelia. Sulpicianus Quinctia. Surdinus Nævia. Talna Juventia. Tampilus Bæbia. Taurus Statilia. Thermus Minucia. Tod.. ... Torquatus Manlia. Trigeminus Curiatia. Trio Lucretia. Trogus Maria. Tubulus Hostilia. Tullus Mæcilia. Turdus Papiria. Turpilianus Petronia. Unimanus Claudia. Vaala Numonia. Varro Terentia. Varus Vibia. Vetus Antistia. Vitulus Voconia. Volusus Valeria.

§ OF THE MONEY OF THE EMPIRE.

(3 and 4.) Imperial coins. The Imperial series may be said to commence in B.C. 2, when Augustus was made Pater Patriæ. From this time forward the names of the moneyers cease to appear on the coinage.

The portrait of the emperor, or of some member of the Imperial family, now almost always occupies the obverse of the coin. The reverse type is, as a general rule, some allegorical figure, such as Spes, Justitia, Salus, Pietas, etc., etc., or the representation of some one of the many provinces of the empire, _e.g._ Britannia, Judæa, etc., or again some military subject, _e.g._ legionary standards, or the emperor addressing his soldiers, together with a great variety of types, to mention which would occupy far more space than we have here at our disposal.

The inscriptions on the Imperial coins contain in an abbreviated form the date of their issue, calculated by the number of times which the Tribunitia Potestas, or Tribunitian power, had been conferred upon the emperor. This office was renewed annually on the first day of January. The formula is TR. POT. or TR. P., followed by a numeral, as, on a coin of Trajan, TR. P. XX. COS. VI. IMP. XI. This means that the coin was struck when the emperor was in the possession of the Tribunitian power for the 20th time, of the consulship for the 6th time, and of the Imperatorship for the 11th time. Now, as Trajan had the Tribunitian power for the first time in A.D. 98, we get the date A.D. 116 for the coin in question. The other offices mentioned were not annual.

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