DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49262#0102
82 GREEK AND ROMAN COINS [bk. i
tyrants of Plierae in Thessaly, placed their names on their
coins, but the coins of their predecessors, Lycophron and the
famous Jason, read simply ΦΕΡΑΙΟΝ. In this connexion it
would have been interesting had the Spartans, with their
constitutional double monarchy, possessed an early coinage
other than the (doubtless anonymous) οβελοί.
The breaking down of the old Greek traditions of autonomy
by Alexander the Great brought about the frank declaration of
the royal prerogative on the coinage of most monarchic states.
Alexander’s name naturally appeared on his own coins in
continuation of the old Macedonian custom. That custom was
eventually adopted, though with some hesitation, by his
successors : and from them it was copied by Agathocles at
Syracuse. Even Sparta at this time followed the fashion, for
a tetradrachm of Alexandrine types reading ΒΑΣΙΑΕΟΣ
ΑΡΕΟΣ is known1. And from this time onwards it is the
rule that the name of the monarch should appear on his
coinage, although some of the more conservative states offer
exceptions2.
§ 4. The Coinage and the Sovereign Power.
1 In antiquity, as in modern times, the right of striking
money was generally an exclusive attribute of sovereignty3.’
The independent right of coinage being but a sign of political
independence, it was inevitable that the ancient Greeks, so
far as their history is that of a number of small independent
states, should produce an extraordinary variety of indepen-
dent issues. The history of Rome, on the other hand, and
that of Persia, are histories of sovereign states, with subjects
grouped under’ them ; and in the coinage of these empires
wre are therefore concerned with series partly imperial, partly
delegated to subordinate authorities. The distinction between
1 Areus reigned from b.c. 310-266. On coins not much later than this
period appears the diademed head of a king who is not named. The
tyrant Nabis (b. c. 207-192) is named and portrayed on a unique tetra-
drachm in the British Museum, reading ΒΑΙΛΕΟΣ ( = Ba'tXeos)
ΝΑΒΙΟΣ {Num. Chr. 1897, p. 107 ff. ; 1898, p. 1). But as a rule the
Spartan coinage was civic. Nabis himself on his earlier coinage placed
his name alone without the title of king.
2 Gardner, Types, pp. 29, 30. 3 Lenormant, ii. p. 3.
tyrants of Plierae in Thessaly, placed their names on their
coins, but the coins of their predecessors, Lycophron and the
famous Jason, read simply ΦΕΡΑΙΟΝ. In this connexion it
would have been interesting had the Spartans, with their
constitutional double monarchy, possessed an early coinage
other than the (doubtless anonymous) οβελοί.
The breaking down of the old Greek traditions of autonomy
by Alexander the Great brought about the frank declaration of
the royal prerogative on the coinage of most monarchic states.
Alexander’s name naturally appeared on his own coins in
continuation of the old Macedonian custom. That custom was
eventually adopted, though with some hesitation, by his
successors : and from them it was copied by Agathocles at
Syracuse. Even Sparta at this time followed the fashion, for
a tetradrachm of Alexandrine types reading ΒΑΣΙΑΕΟΣ
ΑΡΕΟΣ is known1. And from this time onwards it is the
rule that the name of the monarch should appear on his
coinage, although some of the more conservative states offer
exceptions2.
§ 4. The Coinage and the Sovereign Power.
1 In antiquity, as in modern times, the right of striking
money was generally an exclusive attribute of sovereignty3.’
The independent right of coinage being but a sign of political
independence, it was inevitable that the ancient Greeks, so
far as their history is that of a number of small independent
states, should produce an extraordinary variety of indepen-
dent issues. The history of Rome, on the other hand, and
that of Persia, are histories of sovereign states, with subjects
grouped under’ them ; and in the coinage of these empires
wre are therefore concerned with series partly imperial, partly
delegated to subordinate authorities. The distinction between
1 Areus reigned from b.c. 310-266. On coins not much later than this
period appears the diademed head of a king who is not named. The
tyrant Nabis (b. c. 207-192) is named and portrayed on a unique tetra-
drachm in the British Museum, reading ΒΑΙΛΕΟΣ ( = Ba'tXeos)
ΝΑΒΙΟΣ {Num. Chr. 1897, p. 107 ff. ; 1898, p. 1). But as a rule the
Spartan coinage was civic. Nabis himself on his earlier coinage placed
his name alone without the title of king.
2 Gardner, Types, pp. 29, 30. 3 Lenormant, ii. p. 3.