DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45277#0305
TIIRACE.—(I) SOUTHERN COAST.
221
Magistrates’ names on reverse, preceded by EPI—, AIONY£AAO£,
EYPHllPPOY, IPPnNAKTOS: Symbol, cockle-shell. PYOOAHPOY:
Symbol, kantharos. AHMHTPIOY, AIO<PANTOY, OMHPOY . JR Staters.
' EPI—ANAEIPOAIO, AIONY£AAO£, EKAT£1NYMOY,OMHPOY, POAY-
$ANTOY, IPPGNAKTOS, EYPHllPPOY, AITIAAED?, etc., and PPGTH^
in nominative case without EPI.ffi Triobols, 40 grs.
Although it is convenient to distinguish the weights of the coins of
Abdera as Phoenician, Aeginetic, and Persic, it seems nevertheless very
probable that the changes in weight were gradual rather than sudden.
Bronze.
Circ. b. c. 400-350.
Griffin rearing.
Griffin recumbent; magistrates, <t>I,
EPMO, EYAN, MENAN, El, etc.
Griffin seated.
Id.
ABAHPITEGN Griffin rearing.
Head of Hermes.
ABAHPITEON Head of Apollo. 2E -6
,, Id. in linear square .
tE -6
EPI AIONY£AAO£; EPI PAPM....,
etc., in quadripartite square . tE -4
EPI OEC ... Eagle on serpent. JE -4
Head of Apollo in linear square, EPI
EPMOSTPATOY; EPI IEPO-
0GNTOO).Ai .75
EPI AIONYSA Griffin seated . tE • 65
The above list of magistrates, extending over more than a century,
is of course by no means complete, but the number of names recorded is
sufficient to warrant us in supposing that they were the annual Eponymi
of the city. The almost constant presence of the preposition EPI, and
the prominent place occupied by the name are arguments in favour of
this hypothesis, as is also the fact that down to the end of the fifth
century the reverse type seems to be subordinate to the magistrate’s
name, not only changing with it, but in some cases evidently suggested
by it; e. g. NIKO^TPATOS, a warrior; PYOD.N, a tripod; EYATGN,a
prize amphora; MOAPATOPH^, a dancing girl; and perhaps others.
Several of the magistrates may also be identical with famous citizens
of Abdera, mentioned in history. Cf. von Sallet (Zeit.f. Num., viii. 106),
who points out that a Nymphodorus, circ. b. 0. 430, held the supreme
power at Abdera (Thue., ii. 29). Democritus the philosopher was also
an Abderite. He flourished circ. b.c. 440-357, and it is very possible
that he may have occupied at one time the chief magistracy of his native
town, as may also his brother Herodotus, for both these names occur on
coins struck before B. c. 430.
Some of the coin-types of Abdera, notably the Herakles at rest, the
dancing girl, the Discobolos, the Apollo, and the Artemis standing beside
a stag, are among the most artistically instructive coin-types which
have come down to us from any ancient city.
No autonomous coins were struck at Abdera after its absorption into
the empire of Philip of Macedon.
Imperial coins are- known, but the types offer no points of interest.
See B. M. Cat., Thrace, p. 76.
Triefrus?]. This town is known only from the following coins which
have always been found on the northern coast of the Aegean. It was
221
Magistrates’ names on reverse, preceded by EPI—, AIONY£AAO£,
EYPHllPPOY, IPPnNAKTOS: Symbol, cockle-shell. PYOOAHPOY:
Symbol, kantharos. AHMHTPIOY, AIO<PANTOY, OMHPOY . JR Staters.
' EPI—ANAEIPOAIO, AIONY£AAO£, EKAT£1NYMOY,OMHPOY, POAY-
$ANTOY, IPPGNAKTOS, EYPHllPPOY, AITIAAED?, etc., and PPGTH^
in nominative case without EPI.ffi Triobols, 40 grs.
Although it is convenient to distinguish the weights of the coins of
Abdera as Phoenician, Aeginetic, and Persic, it seems nevertheless very
probable that the changes in weight were gradual rather than sudden.
Bronze.
Circ. b. c. 400-350.
Griffin rearing.
Griffin recumbent; magistrates, <t>I,
EPMO, EYAN, MENAN, El, etc.
Griffin seated.
Id.
ABAHPITEGN Griffin rearing.
Head of Hermes.
ABAHPITEON Head of Apollo. 2E -6
,, Id. in linear square .
tE -6
EPI AIONY£AAO£; EPI PAPM....,
etc., in quadripartite square . tE -4
EPI OEC ... Eagle on serpent. JE -4
Head of Apollo in linear square, EPI
EPMOSTPATOY; EPI IEPO-
0GNTOO).Ai .75
EPI AIONYSA Griffin seated . tE • 65
The above list of magistrates, extending over more than a century,
is of course by no means complete, but the number of names recorded is
sufficient to warrant us in supposing that they were the annual Eponymi
of the city. The almost constant presence of the preposition EPI, and
the prominent place occupied by the name are arguments in favour of
this hypothesis, as is also the fact that down to the end of the fifth
century the reverse type seems to be subordinate to the magistrate’s
name, not only changing with it, but in some cases evidently suggested
by it; e. g. NIKO^TPATOS, a warrior; PYOD.N, a tripod; EYATGN,a
prize amphora; MOAPATOPH^, a dancing girl; and perhaps others.
Several of the magistrates may also be identical with famous citizens
of Abdera, mentioned in history. Cf. von Sallet (Zeit.f. Num., viii. 106),
who points out that a Nymphodorus, circ. b. 0. 430, held the supreme
power at Abdera (Thue., ii. 29). Democritus the philosopher was also
an Abderite. He flourished circ. b.c. 440-357, and it is very possible
that he may have occupied at one time the chief magistracy of his native
town, as may also his brother Herodotus, for both these names occur on
coins struck before B. c. 430.
Some of the coin-types of Abdera, notably the Herakles at rest, the
dancing girl, the Discobolos, the Apollo, and the Artemis standing beside
a stag, are among the most artistically instructive coin-types which
have come down to us from any ancient city.
No autonomous coins were struck at Abdera after its absorption into
the empire of Philip of Macedon.
Imperial coins are- known, but the types offer no points of interest.
See B. M. Cat., Thrace, p. 76.
Triefrus?]. This town is known only from the following coins which
have always been found on the northern coast of the Aegean. It was