DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45277#0491
THE CYCLADES.
407
THE ISLANDS OF THE AEGAEAN SEA.
(CYCLADES AND SPORADES.)
[Borrell, H. P., in Num. Chron., v. 173 sqq. Brondsted, Reisen und Untersuchungen in
Griechenland, Paris, 1826 and 1830. British Museum, Catalogue, Greek Coins, Crete and the
Aegaean Islands, London, 1886, by W. W, Wroth.]
The coinage of the islands called the Cyclades and the Sporades consists
of several well-marked and easily distinguished classes. First, there
are the globular and massive staters of the archaic period, struck on the
Aeginetic standard in Ceos, Naxos, Paros, Siphnos, and Melos, at which
last the weight of the stater rises to 22S grs.
The coins of this period present an incuse square on the reverse,
usually, but not in all cases, divided, as on the earliest coins of Aegina,
into triangular compartments, some of which are deeply indented. It
is remarkable that all these earliest insular coinages belong to an age
before the commencement of a coinage in Crete. Aegina, and not Crete,
must therefore be regarded as the cradle of the archaic silver money of
all the central portion of the Aegean Sea with its numerous islands and
once teeming maritime population.
The majority of the coins of this early period come from two im-
portant hoards, one of which was discovered in the island of Thera in
the year 1821, and the other in the island of Melos. There can be little
doubt that these two finds represent in the main the principal currencies
of the island states during the seventh and sixth centuries B. c. Borrell
(Num. Chron., vi. 134) has fortunately preserved a record of the contents
of the Thera find, which is of the highest numismatic interest; and
more recently Mr. W. Wroth (Num. Citron., 1884, p. 369) has given fuller
descriptions and photographs of all the specimens indicated in Mr. Borrell’s
memorandum. Of the Melos find an exact account has not been kept.
The coins found at Thera were briefly as follows :—
Aeginetic Standard.
Aegina . . . 541 staters of the early Tortoise type.
(Num. Citron., 1884, Pl. XII. 15.)
Argos (?) or Delos (?)
23 »
Obv. Two dolphins. Nev. Incuse square.
(Op. cit., Pl. XII. 12.)
Ceos ....
1 »
Obv. Amphora. Rev. Incuse square.
(Op. cit., Bl. XII. 14.)
Naxos
14 „
Obv. Kantharos. Rev. Incuse square.
(Op. cit., Pl. XII. 7.)
Paros
2 .,
Obv. Goat above dolphin. Rev. Incuse square.
(Op. cit., Pl. XII. 13.)
Siphnos .
3 »
Obv. Flying eagle. Rev. Incuse square.
(Op. cit., Pl. XII. 8.)
Uncertain .
41 „
Obv. Half horse. Rev. Two incuse squares, large and
small, each containing a star. (Op. cit., Pl. XII. 1.)
(Cyme in Aeolis ?)
Uncertain
48 »
Obv. Forepart of lion, head reverted, some inscribed
VAO or 0VA = Ulo . . ., Oly . . . ., Ogu . . .,
or possibly Gyth . . . (Gythium ?)
Rev. Rough incuse square, on one specimen con-
taining a star. (Op. cit., Pl. XII. 3, 4, 5.)
407
THE ISLANDS OF THE AEGAEAN SEA.
(CYCLADES AND SPORADES.)
[Borrell, H. P., in Num. Chron., v. 173 sqq. Brondsted, Reisen und Untersuchungen in
Griechenland, Paris, 1826 and 1830. British Museum, Catalogue, Greek Coins, Crete and the
Aegaean Islands, London, 1886, by W. W, Wroth.]
The coinage of the islands called the Cyclades and the Sporades consists
of several well-marked and easily distinguished classes. First, there
are the globular and massive staters of the archaic period, struck on the
Aeginetic standard in Ceos, Naxos, Paros, Siphnos, and Melos, at which
last the weight of the stater rises to 22S grs.
The coins of this period present an incuse square on the reverse,
usually, but not in all cases, divided, as on the earliest coins of Aegina,
into triangular compartments, some of which are deeply indented. It
is remarkable that all these earliest insular coinages belong to an age
before the commencement of a coinage in Crete. Aegina, and not Crete,
must therefore be regarded as the cradle of the archaic silver money of
all the central portion of the Aegean Sea with its numerous islands and
once teeming maritime population.
The majority of the coins of this early period come from two im-
portant hoards, one of which was discovered in the island of Thera in
the year 1821, and the other in the island of Melos. There can be little
doubt that these two finds represent in the main the principal currencies
of the island states during the seventh and sixth centuries B. c. Borrell
(Num. Chron., vi. 134) has fortunately preserved a record of the contents
of the Thera find, which is of the highest numismatic interest; and
more recently Mr. W. Wroth (Num. Citron., 1884, p. 369) has given fuller
descriptions and photographs of all the specimens indicated in Mr. Borrell’s
memorandum. Of the Melos find an exact account has not been kept.
The coins found at Thera were briefly as follows :—
Aeginetic Standard.
Aegina . . . 541 staters of the early Tortoise type.
(Num. Citron., 1884, Pl. XII. 15.)
Argos (?) or Delos (?)
23 »
Obv. Two dolphins. Nev. Incuse square.
(Op. cit., Pl. XII. 12.)
Ceos ....
1 »
Obv. Amphora. Rev. Incuse square.
(Op. cit., Bl. XII. 14.)
Naxos
14 „
Obv. Kantharos. Rev. Incuse square.
(Op. cit., Pl. XII. 7.)
Paros
2 .,
Obv. Goat above dolphin. Rev. Incuse square.
(Op. cit., Pl. XII. 13.)
Siphnos .
3 »
Obv. Flying eagle. Rev. Incuse square.
(Op. cit., Pl. XII. 8.)
Uncertain .
41 „
Obv. Half horse. Rev. Two incuse squares, large and
small, each containing a star. (Op. cit., Pl. XII. 1.)
(Cyme in Aeolis ?)
Uncertain
48 »
Obv. Forepart of lion, head reverted, some inscribed
VAO or 0VA = Ulo . . ., Oly . . . ., Ogu . . .,
or possibly Gyth . . . (Gythium ?)
Rev. Rough incuse square, on one specimen con-
taining a star. (Op. cit., Pl. XII. 3, 4, 5.)