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I.—Excavations At Sparta, 1908 § 8.—A Hoard of Hellenistic Coins
A. J. B. Wace
The Annual of the British School at Athens / Volume 14 / November 1908, pp 149 - 158 DOI: 10.1017/S006824540000318X, Published online: 18 October 2013
Link to this article: http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S006824540000318X
How to cite this article: A. J. B. Wace (1908). I.—Excavations At Sparta, 1908 § 8.—A Hoard of Hellenistic Coins. The Annual of the British School at Athens, 14, pp 149-158 doi:10.1017/S006824540000318X
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Downloaded from http://journals.cambridge.org/ATH, IP address: 128.122.253.212 on 28 Apr 2015 LACONIA.
I.—EXCAVATIONS AT SPARTA, 1908.
§ 8.—A HOARD OF HELLENISTIC COINS.
(PLATES V., VI.)
DURING the sinking of some trial pits by the iron bridge over the Eurotas1 a hoard of silver coins was found. They were contained in a plain vase of red ware, the mouth of which was closed by a clay stopper, and were discovered at a depth of -50 m. below the level of the present surface. The coins have now been transferred from the Sparta Museum to the National Coin Collection at Athens.2 They are all silver tetra- drachms of Attic-Euboic weight, except of course the Ptolemaic coins, which were struck on the Phoenician standard. The weights are those of the coins before they were cleaned. They have probably lost a little in weight during the cleaning process, but I have not thought it necessary to re-weigh them. The Athenian coins I have not described in detail, as the type is so common. My hearty thanks are due to Dr. Svoronos for his help and advice.
THRACE. Lysimachus, 323-281 B.C. 1. Horned head of Alexander to r., border of dots. Rev. Athena Nikephoros seated to 1., on shield behind her a gorgoneion, on r. side a spear: in field below arm \fi, in exergue
1 B.S.A. xiii. PI. I. 0. 12. 2 A brief account of the find will appear in the next annual report of the collection. ISO A. J. B. WACE
bow in case and A", inscr. BAZIAEflS AYZIMAXoY, beyond the latter word in field a club: weight 1545 gr.; C2:1 Miil!er,2 413, Erythrae. (PI. V. 1.)
2. Similar to 1, no border. Rev. similar to 1: below arm hf : of inscr. only AYZIMAX is visible: weight 15-60 gr.; C2: Miiller, 348, Heracleum.
3. Similar to 1, no border, and head small. Rev. similar to 1 ; in field on 1. (n), in exergue A ; of inscr. only BASIAE appears: weight 16*17 gr.; Cs.
MACEDONIA. Alexander III. the Great, 336-323 B.C.
4. Head of Herakles in lion's skin to r., border of dots. Rev. Zeus aetophoros enthroned to 1., feet on stool; r. foot drawn back, sceptre in 1. hand: inscr. behind throne AEZANAPoY, in field on 1. below arm bunch of grapes and /^: weight i$'6? gr.; C2: cf. Miiller,3 1519 ff., uncertain mints. (PI. V. 2.)
5. Similar to 4. Rev. similar to 4, but no footstool: inscr. AAEZANAPoY : below arm sphinx to r. and £, below throne
6. Similar to 4. Rev. similar to 5: inscr. AAEZANAPoY: on 1. below arm plumed helmet with cheek pieces, below throne ^, in exergue /E : weight 1570 gr. ; C2: Miiller, 233, uncertain of Macedonia. (PI. V. 4.)
7. Similar to 4, but border of dots. Rev. similar to 4 but no back to throne : inscr. AAEZANAPOY, in field 1. below arm A, and torch in holder: below throne kantharos, all in border of dots: weight i5'92 gr.; C1: Miiller, 60 Amphipolis. (PI. V. 5.)
1 By the conventional signs C1, C2, C3, etc. the condition of the coin is indicated. 2 Miiller, Miinzen des Lysimachos. 3 Miiller. Numismatique d'Alexandre. LACONIA. SPARTA. 151
8. Similar to 4. Rev. similar to 7, inscr. behind throne AAEZANAP, below throne five-rayed star, in field on 1. A and torch in holder: weight 1630 gr. ; C2: thick flan : cf. Miiller, 66-69, Amphipolis.
9. Similar to 4. Rev. similar to 7 : inscr. ZANAPoY, below arm on 1. five- rayed star: below throne ^ft : weight i6-6o gr.; C2: thick flan: Miiller, 164, Acroathon.
10. Similar to 4. Rev. similar to 7, but no footstool: inscr. AAEZANAPo, below throne Zl, below arm in field on 1. Z, border of dots: weight I5'6o gr. ; C3: scyphate flan : Miiller, 1405, Sidon.
11. Similar to 4. Rev. similar to 4: inscr. AEZ, in field below arm archaic female figure to 1.: weight i6"25 gr. ; C3: Miiller, 875, Sikyon.
12. Similar to 7. Rev. similar to4: inscr. AAEZANAPoY and below throne AEflZ, in field on 1. below arm I, below throne $ in wreath, border of dots : weight i6-65 gr.; C2: thick flan: Miiller, 1413, Sidon.
1 3. Similar to 7. Rev. similar to 4, but r. foot is not drawn back: inscr. as on 12 A E Z A N A B A ZIA E : below throne p Y : below arm on 1. dragon's head open-mouthed to r.: border of dots: weight 15*97 gr. > C2. (PI. V. 6.)
14. Similar to 7. Rev. similar to 5 : inscr. behind throne and below, A AEZ and AE : in field on 1. wreath containing illegible monogram: below throne Ml: all in border of dots: weight 1635 gr.; C3: Miiller, 734, Macedonia, Thrace, and Thessaly. iS2 A. J. B. WAGE
15. Similar to 4. Rev. similar to 13, but no back to throne : inscr. on 1., BAZI, on r. AAEEANAP«Y: below arm in field helmet; border of dots: weight 1640 gr.; C2: Miiller, 224, uncertain of Macedonia.
16. Similar to 7. Rev. similar to 15: inscr. BAZI AEftZ AAEHANAP«YJ below arm, tripod ; all in border of dots: weight i6*iogr.; C3; Miiller, 146, Philippi.
17. Similar to 7. Rev. similar to 15 : traces of inscr. only visible (no sign of BAZIAEHZ). below throne AA, below arm, fore-part of ram to r.; border of dots : weight 1670 gr. ; C2: Miiller, 1338, Damascus.
18. Similar to 4. Rev. similar to 15 : no inscription or symbols visible: weight 16-42gr.; C4.
Demetrius I., 306-283 B.C.
19. Horned head of Demetrius to r. wearing fillet, border of dots. Rev. Poseidon to 1., r. foot raised on rock, trident in 1. hand: on either side BAZIAEX1Z AHMHTPloy : in field on 1. ^ and onr.^: border of dots : weight 1680. gr; C1: cf. Macdonald, Hunter Collection, I.,p. 338, 10. (PI. V. 7.) 20. Similar to 19. Rev. similar to 19, inscr. AZIAEflZ HMHTPloy •" in field on 1. *^g and M > no border visible : weight 15-85 gr.; C2. 21. Nike of Samothrace on prow to 1. Rev. Poseidon to 1. striking with trident in r. hand, on 1. arm chlamys : inscr. much worn AH , A ZlAEil: in field r. fE\, in field 1. (f : weight 16-35 gr.; C4: cf. Macdonald, op. cit. I., p. 337, 2. (PI. V. 8.) LACONIA. SPARTA. 153
ATTICA, Athens.
22-63. Forty-two tetradrachms varying in weight from 15*50 to 16*95 gr., and all of the same type. Head of Athena of fine style, eye in profile, wearing earring and crested helmet decorated with three olives, execution rather rough. Rev. owl to r. with wings closed, behind crescent and spray of olive with two berries: cf. B. M. Cat. Attica, PI. V., 3-6. (PI. V. 9, 10, 11.)
LACONIA.
64. Head of Athena to r. in Corinthian helmet decorated with snake, border of dots, hair in corkscrew curls. Rev. Herakles seated on lion's skin on rock to 1., r. hand rests on club; above in field on either side an eight-rayed star: below stars A A : weight 15-95 gr-; C2. (PI. V. 12.)
65. Similar to 64, but different die. Rev. from same die as 64: weight i6"O5 gr.; C1; cf. 70. (PI. VI. 5.)
66. Similar to 64, but loose curls. Rev. similar to 64: inscr. A A and an eight-rayed star on each side above; below the A a thunderbolt: border of dots: weight 16-34gr.; C1. (PI. VI. 1.)
67. Similar to 66, but plume of helmet has one tail only, and there is no snake. Rev. similar to 64: on either side A A : border of dots : weight 1635 gr.: C2: both obv. and rev. from same dies as British Museum specimen1. (PI. VI. 2.)
68. Similar to 64, and from same die. Rev. similar to 64, but different die: on either side A A : on r. thunderbolt: weight 15-85 gr. ; C2. (PI. VI. 3.)
1 B.M.Cat. Crete, PI. II. \=Rev. Num., 1889, PI. III. 3. 154 A. J. B. WACE
69. Similar to 67, and from same die. Rev. similar to 64, but different die: on either side A A ; border of dots: weight 1675 gr. ; C1. (PI. VI. 4.) 70. Similar to 65, and from same die. Rev. similar to 64, and from same die as rev. of 64 and 65 ;. weight iS-8ogr.; C*. (PI. VI. 5.)
SYRIA. Seleucid Kings, Seleucus I. 312-280 B.C. 71. Head of Herakles in lion's skin to r. Rev. Zeus aetophoros on throne without back to L, right foot drawn back: inscr. behind throne ZEAEYKoY and in exergue BAZIAEHZ, in field on 1. below arm dolphin, and 2T> below throne ^ ; border of dots: weight 16-50 gr., C1: cf. B.M.Cat. 10; and Babelon,'Rots de Syrie, 13-16. (PI. VI. 6.)
Antiochus I. 280-261 B.C. 72. Diademed head of Antiochus to r., within border of dots. Rev. Apollo seated on netted omphalos to 1., drapery round r. thigh and on omphalos, in r. hand arrow, in 1. bow: inscr. BAZlAEIiS ANTI0X0Y, in field on 1. fa, and r. |f, border of dots: weight 16*05 gr. ; C2: cf. B.M.Cat. 6; and Babelon, op. cit., 121. (PI. VI. 7.) Antiochus II. 261-246 B.C. 73. Head of Antiochus to r. wearing winged diadem, from same die as Macdonald,/.U.S., 1903, p. 97, 13-15, PI. II. 3, 4- Rev. similar to 72, inscr. BAZIAEfiZ ANTI0X0Y, in field on I. ^fC and p^, in exergue grazing horse: weight I5'95gr.: C1: from same die as Macdonald, /.H.S. 1903, PI. II. 5 = Babelon, op. cit., 212 : struck at Alexandria Troas. (PI. VI. 8.)
Antiochus III. 222-187 B.C. 74. Diademed head of Antiochus to r., within border of dots. Rev. similar to 72, inscr. BAIIAEftS ANTI0X0Y: in field on r. $ : weight I5x>5gr.; C3. (PI. VI. 9.) LACONIA. SPARTA. 155
EGYPT. Ptolemaic Kings, Ptolemy I. 305-285 B.C.
75. Head of Ptolemy I. diademed to r., border of dots. Rev. Eagle on thunderbolt to r. inscr. oAEMAI BASIAEHZ ; in field on r. A ; border of dots: unintelligible countermarks : weight • I2'8ogr.; C2: Svoronos, ~Nofii(Tfj.aTa rod K/NZTOU? r&v UroXefiaiw, p. 33, PI. VII. 18.
76. Similar to 75, no border, small A behind ear. Rev. similar to 75 with similar inscr., in field to r. P and pSf : weight i3"5Ogr.; C2: Svoronos, p. 43, PL IX. 11.
TJ. Similar to 76. Rev. similar to 76: same inscr. and monograms: weight 13-25 gr.; C3: Svoronos, p. 43, PL IX. 11.
78. Similar to 76, but A not clearly visible. Rev. similar to 75, in field on 1. P and itl : weight 13*60 gr.; C2: various countermarks, including star and circle: Svoronos, p. 44, PL IX. 13. Ptolemy II. 285-246 B.C. 79. Similar to 78. Rev. similar to 75: in field on 1. EY and ^E: weight 1375 gr.; C2: Svoronos, p. 56, PL XI. 2.
80. Similar to 75. Rev. similar to 75 : in field on 1. m, A> ^- and on r- ova' shield: weight I37ogr.; C1: Svoronos, p. 80, PL XII. 14. (PLVI. 10.)
81. Similar to 75. Rev. similar to 75; in field on 1. X: weight 1376 gr.; C2: Svoronos, p. 81, PL XIV. 2.
82. Similar to 75, but no border of dots. Rev. similar to 75 : in field on 1. SI, border of dots: weight 13'OOgr.; C2: Svoronos, p. 105, PL XXI. 2. 156 A. J. B. WACE
83. Similar to 82, but no border of dots. Rev. similar to 82, but no border of dots: weight 13*45 gr.; C2: Svoronos, p. 105, PI. XXI. 2. 84. Similar to 82. Rev. similar to 82: weight i3'4Ogr.; C1: Svoronos, p. 105, PI. XXI. 2. This coin was complete when found, but was broken during the transference of the coins from Sparta to Athens. 85. Similar to 75. Rev. similar to 82, but inscribed FTToAEMAloY SnTHPoS, border of dots, in field on 1 SI, /fl, and on r. AB: weight I3'36gr.; C1: Svoronos, p. 109, PI. XXI. 17, who dates it to 254 B.C. (PI. VI. 11.) 86. Similar to 75.
Rev. similar to 75 ; but inscr. FTToAEMAloY ZHTHPoZ, in field on 1. f, and ^\, on r. KI, and J\: countermarked A(?): border of dots: weight I3"66gr.; C2: cf. Svoronos, p. 63, PI. XVIII. 17, 18; though not mentioned by him this type belongs to his class with four magistrates' monograms. (PI. VI. 12.)
The composition of this hoard, which resembles the Sophiko find,1 gives us some data for attempting to fix its date, and consequently that of the important Laconian coins to which we shall return below. The tetradrachms of Alexander all belong to Miiller's classes I.-V.,2 which are not supposed to be later than the third century. The Seleucid coins contain one of Antiochus III. (222-187 B.C.), the latest coin of the hoard, which consequently must have been buried after 222 B.C. The fact also that none of the Ptolemaic coins are later than 246 B.C. indicates the end of the third century after 222 B.C. as the probable date of the hoard. The remarkably good condition of the Laconian coins seems to show that they had not been long in circulation. Therefore we may reasonably date them to the last quarter of the third century B.C. The attribution of these coins to Laconia seems now certain,3 and the presence of so many in this 1 Svoronos, Journ. Int. Arch. Num. 1907, pp. 35 if. 2 Numismatique d'Alexandre, pp. 97 ff. 3 For a list of the specimens known and the literature on the subject see Svoronos, Numis- malique de la Crite, p. 3 ; to his list of known specimens add, Athens from Sophiko, the obverse of which is from the same die as No. 67 above (Journ. Int. Arch. Num. 1907, PI. I. 20), Cambridge, LACONIA. SPARTA. 157
Spartan hoard confirms Dr. Svoronos' arguments. The Herakles type of the reverse is imitated from a class of tetradrachms struck by Antiochus II. in Western Asia Minor, as Dr. Macdonald has shown.1 The same type was used at Sparta by Nabis (207-192 B.C.),2 and by Euthydemus I. of Bactria {circa 222-187 B.C.),3 and seems to have been popular towards the end of the third century B.C., which fits in well with the date given above. These Laconian coins we may assign to Nabis, or perhaps more probably to his predecessors Machanidas (210-207 B.C.)4 or Lycurgus (220-212 B.C.).6 Then the coins with the Apollo of Amyclae on the reverse we may attribute to Cleomenes III. (235-221 B.C.),6 although they are now usually assigned to Areus, who struck tetradrachms with the types of Alexander.7 It does not seem possible that Areus struck coins with the Apollo of Amyclae type at Sparta in the face of all tradition. The coins that bear his name were probably struck by him, not as King of Sparta,8 but as general of the combined Greek army in the campaigns against Antigonus Gonatas after 281 B.C.9 The first alteration of the Spartan constitution was that of Cleomenes III. (235-221 B.C.), and he may possibly have struck the coins with the Apollo of Amyclae reverse, since he would have had no scruples against breaking with tradition. During 221-220 B.C. after Sellasia the Lycurgan constitution was restored. But the revolution of 220 began with the murder of the Ephors and the re-establishment of the reforms of Cleomenes, who was expected to return;10 consequently it is quite reasonable to assume that Lycurgus and Machanidas imitated Cleomenes
Leake Coll. (Itfumismata Hellenica, p. 55), Montagu Coll. {Montagu Sale Catalogue, i. p. 55, 415), Weber Coll. {Weber Coll, Cat. PI. 26, No. 2079); Seltman, Num. Chron. 1909, pp. 1-6. It will be seen that the other two specimens, illustrated in Rev. Num. 1889, PI. III. Nos. I and 2 (the latter is io the Hunterian Collection: v. Macdonald, Hunter Coll. ii. PI. XXXIX. 1) are from totally different dies. A comparison of all known specimens should prove very interesting : the number of dies used is remarkable. 1 /M.S. 1907, pp. 145 ff. Pis. XIII. XIV. 2 B.C.H. xv. p. 416 ; Wroth, Num. Chron. 1897, p. 107, PI. V. 2 ; Perdrizet, Num. Chron. 1898, pp. iff.; Lambros, 'AvaypaQi) vo/jLtafiaTtav, neAoir^vnjffos, p. 89. 3 B.M.Cat. Bactria, Pis. I. II. : cf. the memorial coin of Agathocles, op. cit. PI. IV. 3. 4 Niese, Geschichle d. griech. u. mak. Staaten, ii. pp. 426, 434, 441, 448, 454, 462 ff., 482. 6 Niese, op. cit. ii. pp. 483, 485, 489, 491, 498 ff. 6 v. Bompois, Portraits attribute a CUomene, iii.; Head, Hist. Num. p. 364; B.M.Cat. Peloponnesus, p. xlvii; Leake, Num. Hell. pp. 55 ff.; Rev. Num. 1889, PI. III. 5-7. 7 Cf. Zeit. f. Num. ii. PL IX. 1 ; Lambros, op. cit. p. 88, PI. IA' 6. 8 If the coins of Areus were struck at Sparta we should expect the legend to be not BAEI AEHZ, but BAIAEOS ason the coins and tiles of Nabis: v. B.S.A. xiii. p. 21, Fig. 2. 9 Niese, op. cit. ii. pp. II, 230. 10 Niese, op. cit. ii. pp. 425 ff. 158 LACONIA. SPARTA. and struck coins to pay mercenaries in their campaigns against the Achaean League. These suggested attributions will then give us a well- defined series of Laconian coins for the latter part of the third century B.C. Two other points deserve brief attention. The presence of Ptolemaic coins in this hoard recalls the support given by Egypt to Sparta in the third century during the Chremonidean war and the reign of Cleomenes III. Also the number of the Athenian tetradrachms suggests that this type continued to be struck later than is usually supposed. In fact Dr. Svoronos believes them to have been struck during the third century, because they are so frequently found with coins of the Diadochi.1
A. J. B. WACE.
ADDENDUM.
Since this was written a paper by Mr. Seltman on the Laconian coins discussed above has appeared in the Numismatic Chronicle (1909, pp. 1 ff., Lacedaemon versus Allasia). He assigns this type to Laconia, and considers it to be the first issue of Nabis, his second issue being of the type published by Lambros, and his third of the British Museum—Montagu type (v. reff. cited above). The head of Athena according to him is that of the Apollo of Amyclae. Mr. Seltman also assigns both the two earlier Laconian issues (the Alexander and Apollo of Amyclae types) mentioned above to Areus. I see however no reason to alter anything I have written above.
A. J. B. W.
1 Cf. the Sophiko find,/ SPARTA : HOARD OK HELLENISTIC COINS. B.S.A., Vol. XIV. (1907^8), PI. VI. SPARTA ; HOARD OF HELLENISTIC COINS.