DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49262#0235
CH. ix]
THE DATING OF COINS
215
an exceptionally early instance. It is very common in imperial
times. The form Q is never very common, but is found as
early as the first century b. c. The horizontal lines of Ω begin
to degenerate into mere serifs in early imperial times, although
a well-formed Ω is still often found. W is late, hardly occurring
before the time of Septimius Severus.
F.
This letter, in the form F, is kept up as an archaism at
Elis, and not discarded until imperial times. At Axus in Crete
it lasts to the end of the fourth century. The form h is also
found in Crete, as late as the third century b. c. N is another
rare form found in the fourth century b. c. at the Cretan Axus ;
compare the Pamphylian form \A at Perga in the second or
first century b. c.
Φ is only used as a numeral ( = 6), but as such has a great
variety of shapes. In imperial times it is most commonly
or q or C, sometimes Fi ; an earlier form is CK.
0·
φ as the initial of the name of Corinth is retained even to the
days of the Achaean League. On a few staters of the early
fifth century it takes the form φ. In some other places (as in
Arcadia and at Syracuse) it disappears early in the fifth century ;
at Croton it lasts till about 420 b. c. As a numeral (= 90) it
continues to be used till the latest times.
San.
This letter is represented on Greek coins by the φ of
Mesembria. An analogous form seems to be the Pamphylian
ψ (= σσ) on coins of Perga.
Roman.
There is much less variety in the forms of letters on Roman
than on Greek coins. The development of forms is not there-
fore of much value for purposes of dating. A few details 1
’ Based on the unpublished classification of the Roman coins in the
British Museum by Count de Salis. and therefore differing in many small
points from the results given by Mommsen.
THE DATING OF COINS
215
an exceptionally early instance. It is very common in imperial
times. The form Q is never very common, but is found as
early as the first century b. c. The horizontal lines of Ω begin
to degenerate into mere serifs in early imperial times, although
a well-formed Ω is still often found. W is late, hardly occurring
before the time of Septimius Severus.
F.
This letter, in the form F, is kept up as an archaism at
Elis, and not discarded until imperial times. At Axus in Crete
it lasts to the end of the fourth century. The form h is also
found in Crete, as late as the third century b. c. N is another
rare form found in the fourth century b. c. at the Cretan Axus ;
compare the Pamphylian form \A at Perga in the second or
first century b. c.
Φ is only used as a numeral ( = 6), but as such has a great
variety of shapes. In imperial times it is most commonly
or q or C, sometimes Fi ; an earlier form is CK.
0·
φ as the initial of the name of Corinth is retained even to the
days of the Achaean League. On a few staters of the early
fifth century it takes the form φ. In some other places (as in
Arcadia and at Syracuse) it disappears early in the fifth century ;
at Croton it lasts till about 420 b. c. As a numeral (= 90) it
continues to be used till the latest times.
San.
This letter is represented on Greek coins by the φ of
Mesembria. An analogous form seems to be the Pamphylian
ψ (= σσ) on coins of Perga.
Roman.
There is much less variety in the forms of letters on Roman
than on Greek coins. The development of forms is not there-
fore of much value for purposes of dating. A few details 1
’ Based on the unpublished classification of the Roman coins in the
British Museum by Count de Salis. and therefore differing in many small
points from the results given by Mommsen.