Mint study · Attica

AthensἈθῆναι

12 references in the library

The coinage of Athens, from the earliest silver to the late Hellenistic issues.

Sixth–first centuries BC. Dates and readings follow the named reference works; the Roman imperial bronze series is outside this study’s present scope.

Sunlit stone walls and monuments of the Acropolis rising above trees, seen from the Areopagus in Athens.
The Acropolis, seen from the Areopagus · AthensGgia, 2010 · Image credit
01 · Series and chronology

Series and chronology

Principal phases of the coinage, with the chronological attributions adopted in the cited studies.

  1. c. 546–510 BC

    Wappenmünzen

    Silver · didrachms and smaller units

    The earliest Athenian silver issues bear several obverse types, including wheels, amphorae and animal heads. Kroll dates this coinage to the Peisistratid tyranny. The date of its introduction is approximate.

    Kroll 1993, p. 5
  2. Late 6th–early 5th c. BC

    Early owl coinage

    Silver · tetradrachms and fractions

    The helmeted head of Athena and the owl replaced the changing types of the Wappenmünzen. Olive leaves were added to Athena’s helmet on the “wreathed” issues of the 470s and 460s.

    Kroll 1993, pp. 5–6
  3. c. 450s–404 BC

    Standardized fifth-century issues

    Silver · large issues of tetradrachms

    Kroll dates the beginning of the standardized tetradrachm issues to the 450s BC, revising Starr’s proposed date of 449. Emergency gold and silver-plated bronze issues belong to the late fifth century.

    Kroll 1993, pp. 6–8
  4. 353 BC

    Reminting and pi-style silver

    Silver · pi-style tetradrachms

    In Kroll’s reconstruction, the state called in older silver coins for reminting after the Social War. Flattening and folding these coins produced blanks whose seams and irregular outlines remain visible on some pi-style tetradrachms.

    Kroll 2011, pp. 232–245
  5. 4th–3rd centuries BC

    Bronze and fractional silver

    Silver fractions · an expanding bronze currency

    Bronze increasingly replaced the smaller silver denominations in circulation. Kroll concludes that Athens ceased striking silver denominations below the triobol by the end of the fourth century.

    Kroll 1993, pp. 4, 37–39
  6. Mid-2nd–mid-1st c. BC

    New Style silver coinage

    Silver · tetradrachms, drachms and hemidrachms

    The New Style issues have broad flans, with Athena on the obverse and an owl on an amphora within an olive wreath on the reverse. Names, symbols and letters record aspects of mint administration. Kroll dates the full New Style to c. 165 BC; Thompson’s corpus catalogues the specimens.

    Kroll 1993, pp. 13–15; Thompson 1961

Dates follow the cited studies and are approximate where indicated. Thompson’s New Style corpus provides the specimen catalogue; Kroll discusses subsequent revisions to its chronology.

02 · Metals, denominations, and standards

Metals, denominations, and standards

Silver values and bronze modules. A denomination’s theoretical weight is distinct from the measured weight of a surviving specimen.

The Attic silver standard

1 drachm = 6 obols

Selected units attested in different Athenian series; these were not all struck together. The chart includes the later pentobols and tetrobols and the very small fourth-century fractions.

Selected silver denominations and calculated weights
DenominationObolsGrams*
Tetradrachm2417.28
Didrachm128.64
Drachm64.32
Pentobol53.60
Tetrobol42.88
Triobol / hemidrachm32.16
Diobol21.44
Trihemiobol1½1.08
Obol10.72
Tritartemorion¾0.54
Hemiobol½0.36
Tetartemorion¼0.18
Hemitetartemorion⅛0.09

*Calculated at 4.32 g to the drachm (0.72 g to the obol), rounded to 0.01 g. Bar lengths express value, not diameter. The 0.09 g eighth-obol entry is a theoretical proportion, not a specimen measurement.

Standard: Kroll 2011, pp. 246–248. Attested denominations: Kroll 1993, pp. 16–23, 26; the attribution of the two-owl fraction on p. 19 is disputed.

Silver, gold and plated bronze

Silver provides the long sequence from Wappenmünzen through the Old and New Style owl coinages. Athens also struck emergency gold in 407/6 BC. Kroll associates a specific plated-bronze group from the Piraeus hoard of 1902 with the emergency currency of 406/5; this does not identify every plated owl as an official issue. Kroll 1993, pp. 4–8.

The New Style issues signed by Mithradates and Aristion have counterparts in gold and bronze in 87/6 BC. The shared star-between-crescents device identifies this association. Kroll 1993, pp. 14, 73–74.

Bronze modules

Kroll’s five modules describe the later Hellenistic bronze system. The ranges below summarize his classification; individual issues can extend beyond them.

Kroll’s approximate Hellenistic bronze modules
Modulemmg
AE 120–228–10
AE 216–205–7
AE 313–152–4
AE 410–131–2
AE 57–10Under 1

Kroll proposes AE 4 as the chalkous, AE 3 as its double, AE 2 as its quadruple and AE 5 as its half. These are inferred monetary values; “AE 1–5” are modern module labels. Bronze values cannot be calculated by applying silver weight ratios.

Kroll 1993, pp. 37–39 ↗

Compare measured Piraeus hoard specimens →

03 · Types, legends, and varieties

Types, legends, and varieties

Obverse and reverse descriptions, ethnic legends, magistrate inscriptions and subsidiary devices. The catalogue below contains 51 type descriptions and the 111 entries in Thompson’s New Style sequence.

Illustrated specimen

Athenian silver tetradrachm

Silver tetradrachm · 449–407 BC
Athens · Cleveland Museum of Art

Obverse of an Athenian silver tetradrachm: Athena faces right in a crested helmet decorated with olive leaves.
Obverse · AthenaPhotograph enlarged; coin diameter 23 mm
Obverse

Athena

Head of Athena right, wearing a crested helmet ornamented with three olive leaves and a palmette.

Metal
Silver
Weight
17.107 g
Diameter
23 mm
View the museum record
Reverse of the same Athenian tetradrachm: a facing owl, an olive sprig and crescent at left, and the letters ΑΘΕ at right.
Reverse · The owlPhotograph enlarged; coin diameter 23 mm
Reverse

The owl

Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent to left; ΑΘΕ to right.

Metal
Silver
Weight
17.107 g
Diameter
23 mm
View the museum record

Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of J. H. Wade, 1916.992. Photographs: CC0.

Athenian tetradrachm

Cleveland Museum of Art · 1916.992 · CC0

Changing obverse types

The Wappenmünzen are uninscribed, with changing devices and incuse reverses. Kroll records fourteen obverse types in the didrachm sequence; the Agora sample represents only part of this range. The four entries below identify the types present in that excavation catalogue. Kroll 1993, pp. 5, 16; Kroll 1981.

Athena, owl and ethnic

The owl series retains Athena and ΑΘΕ while changing the eye, helmet ornament, subsidiary devices and treatment of the reverse. Pi-style issues have a helmet ornament resembling Π. The later quadridigité ornament and the silver with symbols are separate developments. Kroll 1993, pp. 8–13; Kroll 2011, pp. 232–234.

Reference index

Types and issue groups

Download cited data ↓

Type descriptions follow Kroll’s catalogue; the New Style groups follow Thompson’s sequence on pp. 27–29. This is an index to those works, not a complete die corpus. Early monograms require comparison with the printed forms; their shapes are not represented by substitute letters. Third-magistrate, month-letter and die-level combinations are not exhaustively transcribed here.

Search Greek letters or their Latin transliteration. Spaces separate search terms; every term must match. Abbreviated inscriptions remain abbreviated.

162 records

Early silver 6 descriptions
Obverse
Helmeted Athena right.
Reverse and distinctions
Owl standing left, head facing; olive spray; ethnic incompletely preserved on the Agora specimen.
Classical silver 6 descriptions
Obverse
Athena right; Attic helmet with palmette and olive leaves.
Reverse and distinctions
Owl right, head facing; olive spray and crescent; ΑΘΕ.
Obverse
Athena right in ornamented Attic helmet.
Reverse and distinctions
Owl right, head facing; olive spray; ΑΘΕ. The fifth-century drachm lacks the tetradrachm’s crescent.
Obverse
Athena right.
Reverse and distinctions
Facing owl between olive branches. Letters of the ethnic occur in different arrangements.
Obverse
Athena right.
Reverse and distinctions
Two owls facing outward, heads facing; olive spray between. Kroll discusses diobol versus trihemiobol attribution; do not assign a value from the two owls alone.
Obverse
Athena right.
Reverse and distinctions
Owl right, head facing; olive spray; ΑΘΕ.
Obverse
Athena right.
Reverse and distinctions
Owl right, head facing; olive spray. Some worn Agora specimens cannot securely be separated from fourth-century examples.
Later silver 10 descriptions
Obverse
Athena right with the eye drawn in profile.
Reverse and distinctions
Traditional owl, olive spray, crescent and ΑΘΕ. Helmet ornament distinguishes phases within this broad group.
Obverse
Athena right.
Reverse and distinctions
Double-bodied owl with one facing head; olive sprays in upper corners; ethnic in different arrangements.
Obverse
Athena right.
Reverse and distinctions
Three crescents with horns directed inward, arranged around the letters of the ethnic.
Obverse
Athena right in Corinthian helmet.
Reverse and distinctions
Owl turned three-quarters right, head facing, lifting its wings; field symbol; letters of ΑΘΕ.
Obverse
Athena right in Attic helmet.
Reverse and distinctions
Two owls facing outward, heads facing; letters of ΑΘΕ; some later issues have an additional symbol.
Obverse
Athena right in Attic helmet.
Reverse and distinctions
Traditional owl, spray, crescent and ΑΘΕ. The Agora example’s status as an imitation is left open.
Obverse
Athena right; modified late Old Style ornament.
Reverse and distinctions
Owl right, head facing, with an added control symbol. On the Agora specimen the symbol is illegible.
New Style specimens 3 descriptions
Obverse
Athena Parthenos right in decorated Attic helmet.
Reverse and distinctions
Owl on amphora in wreath; ΤΙΜΑΡΧΟΥ / ΝΙΚΑΓΟ group; third name ΝΙΚΙΑΡΧΕ; Η on amphora; anchor. Kroll dates this specimen to 134/3 BC.
Obverse
Athena Parthenos right.
Reverse and distinctions
ΗΡΑΚΛΕΙΔΗΣ / ΕΥΚΛΗΣ group, third reading [Τ]ΙΜΑ[Ρ]; Tyche voting; amphora letter illegible. Kroll dates the specimen to 105/4 BC.
Bronze 26 descriptions
Obverse
Triptolemos in a winged, serpent-drawn chariot.
Reverse and distinctions
Piglet on mystic staff; ΕΛΕΥΣΙ; symbols include pig’s head with ivy leaf, ivy branch, boukranion, shell, ram’s head, dolphin and astragal; also letter controls.
Obverse
Triptolemos in winged chariot.
Reverse and distinctions
Piglet on mystic staff with ΑΘΕ. No. 39 has a plemochoe below; no. 40 places the ethnic below the piglet.
Obverse
Athena right in Corinthian helmet.
Reverse and distinctions
Zeus hurling thunderbolt; amphora to left and eagle to right, without cornucopia; ethnic.
Obverse
Athena right in Corinthian helmet.
Reverse and distinctions
Zeus hurling thunderbolt between two caps of the Dioscuri; ethnic. Kroll associates the device with the Demetrios–Agathippos silver.
Obverse
Athena right in Attic helmet.
Reverse and distinctions
Two owls standing outward on a thunderbolt, heads facing; ΑΘΕ below; olive wreath.
Obverse
Artemis right, quiver at shoulder.
Reverse and distinctions
Plemochoe within wreath; ethnic. Kroll relates its distribution to use on Delos.

New Style magistrates and symbols

The three divisions below are Thompson’s “Early”, “Middle” and “Late” groups. Their order locates entries in the corpus; it is not a revised annual chronology. The edition’s original dates have therefore been omitted. Greek text retains the issue-heading abbreviations, with ordinary letterforms normalized; a slash separates alternative officials in the same group. Thompson 1961, pp. 27–30; chronological revisions: Kroll 1993, pp. 13–15.

New Style · Early 28 issue groups
Early New Style issues: inscriptions, symbols and catalogue pages in Thompson 1961
Magistrate inscriptionSymbolCatalogue
MonogramsNo symbolThompson
p. 32
MonogramsKerchnos and bakchosThompson
p. 33
Monograms; ΦΑΝΙ variantNo symbolThompson
p. 35
MonogramsNo symbol or cornucopiaThompson
p. 36
MonogramsTwo palm branchesThompson
p. 38
MonogramsClubThompson
p. 40
MonogramsRudderThompson
p. 41
MonogramsNikeThompson
p. 43
MonogramsTrophyThompson
p. 45
MonogramsGrain earThompson
p. 47
MonogramsCaps of the DioscuriThompson
p. 49
MonogramsCicadaThompson
p. 50
MonogramsSerpentsThompson
p. 52
MonogramsHerm of HermesThompson
p. 55
ΑΜΜΩ — ΔΙΟAmmo — DioKerchnosThompson
p. 57
ΠΟΛΥ — ΤΙΜ (ligature)Poly — Tim (ligature)Palm branch behind owlThompson
p. 58
ΑΜΜΩ — ΔΙΟAmmo — DioCornucopiaThompson
p. 61
ΑΔΕΙ — ΗΛΙΟAdei — ElioTridentThompson
p. 64
ΧΑΡΙ — ΗΡΑChari — EraCock with palmThompson
p. 65
Monogram — ΛΥΣΙΑMonogram — LysiaHorse forepartThompson
p. 73
MonogramsFilleted thyrsosThompson
p. 76
ΔΙΟΦΑ — ΔΙΟΔΟDiopha — DiodoApolloThompson
p. 78
ΔΗΜΗ — ΙΕΡΩDeme — IeroHelmetThompson
p. 81
MonogramsEagleThompson
p. 88
MonogramsAplustreThompson
p. 91
ΚΤΗΣΙ — ΕΥΜΑKtesi — EymaNikeThompson
p. 94
ΓΛΑΥ — ΕΧΕGlay — EcheBust of HeliosThompson
p. 98
ΜΙΚΙ — ΘΕΟΦΡΑMiki — TheophraNike in quadrigaThompson
p. 103
New Style · Middle 38 issue groups
Middle New Style issues: inscriptions, symbols and catalogue pages in Thompson 1961
Magistrate inscriptionSymbolCatalogue
ΗΡΑ — ΑΡΙΣΤΟΦEra — AristophClub, lion skin and bow in caseThompson
p. 133
ΜΕΝΕΔ — ΕΠΙΓΕΝΟMened — EpigenoAsklepiosThompson
p. 138
ΤΙΜΑΡΧΟΥ — ΝΙΚΑΓΟTimarchoy — NikagoAnchor and starThompson
p. 143
ΠΟΛΥΧΑΡΜ — ΝΙΚΟΓPolycharm — NikogWinged caduceusThompson
p. 148
ΔΩΡΟΘΕ — ΔΙΟΦDorothe — DiophLion forepartThompson
p. 151
ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΣ — ΝΙΚΟΓ / ΚΑΡΑΙΧΟΣAntiochos — Nikog / KaraichosElephantThompson
p. 155
ΘΕΟΦΡΑ — ΣΩΤΑΣTheophra — SotasWinged thunderboltThompson
p. 160
ΔΙΟΓΕ — ΠΟΣΕΙDioge — PoseiDionysosThompson
p. 163
ΑΧΑΙΟΣ — ΗΛΙAchaios — EliCornucopia with grainThompson
p. 166
ΛΥΣΑΝ — ΓΛΑΥΚΟΣLysan — GlaykosCicadaThompson
p. 170
ΕΠΙΓΕΝΗ — ΣΩΣΑΝΔΡΟΣEpigene — SosandrosEagle on thunderboltThompson
p. 173
ΠΟΛΕΜΩΝ — ΑΛΚΕΤΗΣPolemon — AlketesTripodThompson
p. 181
ΜΙΚΙΩΝ — ΕΥΡΥΚΛΕΙMikion — EyrykleiDioscuriThompson
p. 187
ΑΦΡΟΔΙΣΙ — ΑΠΟΛΗΞΙAphrodisi — ApolexiNikeThompson
p. 193
ΕΥΡΥΚΛΕΙ — ΑΡΙΑΡΑEyryklei — AriaraThree GracesThompson
p. 196
ΚΑΡΑΙΧ — ΕΡΓΟΚΛΕKaraich — ErgokleProwThompson
p. 200
ΑΦΡΟΔΙΣΙ — ΔΙΟΓΕAphrodisi — DiogeDouble cornucopia with filletThompson
p. 205
ΔΙΟΝΥΣΙ — ΔΙΟΝΥΣΙDionysi — DionysiHelios in quadrigaThompson
p. 209
ΑΜΜΩΝΙΟΣ — ΚΑΛΛΙΑΣAmmonios — KalliasTwo torchesThompson
p. 216
ΘΕΜΙΣΤΟ — ΘΕΟΠΟΜΠΟΣThemisto — TheopomposTrophy on prowThompson
p. 221
ΣΩΚΡΑΤΗΣ — ΔΙΟΝΥΣΟΔΩSokrates — DionysodoApollo DeliosThompson
p. 226
ΜΗΤΡΟΔΩΡΟΣ — ΜΙΛΤΙΑΔΗΣ / ΔΗΜΟΣΘΕΝMetrodoros — Miltiades / DemosthenGrapesThompson
p. 232
ΔΙΟΤΙΜΟΣ — ΜΑΓΑΣDiotimos — MagasNo symbolThompson
p. 237
ΕΥΜΑΡΕΙΔΗΣ — ΑΛΚΙΔΑΜ / ΚΛΕΟΜΕΝEymareides — Alkidam / KleomenTriptolemosThompson
p. 242
ΧΑΡΙΝΑΥΤΗΣ — ΑΡΙΣΤΕΑΣCharinaytes — AristeasDemeter (?) with torchesThompson
p. 246
ΦΑΝΟΚΛΗΣ — ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝΙΟΣPhanokles — ApolloniosArtemis with torchThompson
p. 252
ΕΥΒΟΥΛΙΔΗΣ — ΑΓΑΘΟΚΛΗEyboylides — AgathokleArtemis with fawnThompson
p. 257
ΖΩΙΛΟΣ — ΕΥΑΝΔΡΟΣZoilos — EyandrosBeeThompson
p. 257
ΔΑΜΩΝ — ΣΩΣΙΚΡΑΤΗΣDamon — SosikratesQuiver and bowThompson
p. 262
ΕΥΜΗΛΟΣ — ΚΑΛΛΙΦΩΝEymelos — KalliphonTycheThompson
p. 267
ΗΡΑΚΛΕΙΔΗΣ — ΕΥΚΛΗΣErakleides — EyklesWinged Tyche with amphora (first group)Thompson
p. 271
ΘΕΟΔΟΤΟΣ — ΚΛΕΟΦΑΝΗΣTheodotos — KleophanesNo symbolThompson
p. 275
ΗΡΑΚΛΕΙΔΗΣ — ΕΥΚΛΗΣErakleides — EyklesWinged Tyche with amphora (second group)Thompson
p. 282
ΑΝΔΡΕΑΣ — ΧΑΡΙΝΑΥΤΗΣAndreas — CharinaytesDionysos and Demeter (?)Thompson
p. 287
ΙΚΕΣΙΟΣ — ΑΣΚΛΗΠΙΑΔΗΣIkesios — AsklepiadesWreathThompson
p. 290
ΤΙΜΟΣΤΡΑΤΟΣ — ΠΟΣΗΣTimostratos — PosesDionysos with maskThompson
p. 292
ΑΜΦΙΚΡΑΤΗΣ — ΕΠΙΣΤΡΑΤΟΣAmphikrates — EpistratosGrain earsThompson
p. 296
ΔΩΣΙΘΕΟΣ — ΧΑΡΙΑΣDositheos — ChariasTycheThompson
p. 300
New Style · Late 45 issue groups
Late New Style issues: inscriptions, symbols and catalogue pages in Thompson 1961
Magistrate inscriptionSymbolCatalogue
ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΣ — ΑΓΑΘΙΠΠΟΣDemetrios — AgathipposCaps of the DioscuriThompson
p. 320
ΝΙΚΗΤΗΣ — ΔΙΟΝΥΣΙΟΣNiketes — DionysiosGorgon headThompson
p. 329
ΑΡΙΣΤΙΩΝ — ΦΙΛΩΝAristion — PhilonPegasusThompson
p. 335
ΑΡΟΠΟΣ — ΜΝΑΣΑΓΟAropos — MnasagoWinged AgonThompson
p. 340
ΞΕΝΟΚΛΗΣ — ΑΡΜΟΞΕΝΟΣXenokles — ArmoxenosCoiled serpentThompson
p. 344
ΝΙΚΟΓΕΝΗΣ — ΚΑΛΛΙΜΑΧΟΣNikogenes — KallimachosHermes or no symbolThompson
p. 347
ΔΗΜΕΑΣ — ΕΡΜΟΚΛΗΣDemeas — ErmoklesHeaddress of IsisThompson
p. 350
ΞΕΝΟΚΛΗΣ — ΑΡΜΟΞΕΝΟΣXenokles — ArmoxenosDolphin and tridentThompson
p. 354
ΞΕΝΟΚΛΗΣ — ΑΡΜΟΞΕΝΟΣXenokles — ArmoxenosRomaThompson
p. 359
ΚΟΙΝΤΟΣ — ΚΛΕΑΣKointos — KleasRoma and NikeThompson
p. 362
ΑΠΕΛΛΙΚΩΝ — ΓΟΡΓΙΑΣApellikon — GorgiasGriffinThompson
p. 364
ΒΑΣΙΛΕ ΜΙΘΡΑΔΑΤΗΣ — ΑΡΙΣΤΙΩΝBasile Mithradates — AristionStar between crescentsMithradates and Aristion: 87/6 BC in Kroll 1993, p. 14. Its position here follows the corpus, not the revised chronology. SourceThompson
p. 368
ΜΝΑΣΕΑΣ — ΝΕΣΤΩΡMnaseas — NestorKerchnosThompson
p. 369
ΚΛΕΟΦΑΝΗΣ — ΕΠΙΘΕΤΗΣKleophanes — EpithetesBaitulos with filletThompson
p. 370
ΜΕΝΤΩΡ — ΜΟΣΧΙΩΝMentor — MoschionHarmodios and AristogeitonThompson
p. 371
ΑΡΧΙΤΙΜΟΣ — ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙArchitimos — DemetriIsisThompson
p. 372
ΛΥΣΑΝΔΡΟΣ — ΟΙΝΟΦΙΛΟΣLysandros — OinophilosPoppy head and grain earsThompson
p. 374
ΑΜΦΙΑΣ — ΟΙΝΟΦΙΛΟΣAmphias — OinophilosDemeterThompson
p. 375
ΕΥΜΗΛΟΣ — ΘΕΟΞΕΝΙΔΗΣEymelos — TheoxenidesAres (?)Thompson
p. 376
ΝΕΣΤΩΡ — ΜΝΑΣΕΑΣNestor — MnaseasStagThompson
p. 377
ΣΩΤΑΔΗΣ — ΘΕΜΙΣΤΟΚΛΗΣSotades — ThemistoklesBakchosThompson
p. 379
ΛΕΥΚΙΟΣ — ΑΝΤΙΚΡΑΤΗΣLeykios — AntikratesDemeter and ArtemisThompson
p. 380
ΠΑΝΤΑΚΛΗΣ — ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΣPantakles — DemetriosHeraklesThompson
p. 380
ΘΕΟΦΡΑΣΤΟΣ — ΘΕΜΙΣΤΟTheophrastos — ThemistoLooped filletThompson
p. 381
ΔΙΟΦΑΝΤΟΣ — ΑΙΣΧΙΝΗΣDiophantos — AischinesSphinxThompson
p. 381
ΔΗΜΕΑΣ — ΚΑΛΛΙΚΡΑΤΙΔΗΣDemeas — KallikratidesIsisThompson
p. 382
ΑΛΚΕΤΗΣ — ΕΥΑΓΙΩΝAlketes — EyagionHelmetThompson
p. 382
ΔΙΟΝΥΣΙΟΣ — ΜΝΑΣΑΓΟΡΑΣDionysios — MnasagorasDionysosThompson
p. 383
ΕΠΙΓΕΝΗΣ — ΞΕΝΩΝEpigenes — XenonApollo LykeiosThompson
p. 383
ΜΕΝΕΔΗΜΟΣ — ΤΙΜΟΚΡΑΤΗΣMenedemos — TimokratesDemeterThompson
p. 384
ΜΕΝΝΕΑΣ — ΗΡΩΔΗΣMenneas — ErodesHekateThompson
p. 385
ΔΙΟΝΥΣΙΟΣ — ΔΗΜΟΣΤΡΑΤΟΣDionysios — DemostratosWinged caduceusThompson
p. 385
ΔΗΜΟΧΑΡΗΣ — ΠΑΜΜΕΝΗΣDemochares — PammenesCicadaThompson
p. 386
ΔΙΟΚΛΗΣ — ΛΕΩΝΙΔΗΣDiokles — LeonidesAsklepiosThompson
p. 386
ΦΙΛΟΚΡΑΤΗΣ — ΗΡΩΔΗΣPhilokrates — ErodesDionysosThompson
p. 387
ΚΑΛΛΙΜΑΧΟΣ — ΕΠΙΚΡΑΤΗΣKallimachos — EpikratesTriptolemosThompson
p. 387
ΑΡΧΙΤΙΜΟΣ — ΠΑΜΜΕΝΗΣArchitimos — PammenesFilleted thyrsosThompson
p. 388
ΔΙΟΚΛΗΣ ΤΟ ΔΕΥ — ΜΗΔΕΙΟΣDiokles To Dey — MedeiosHygieiaThompson
p. 388
ΑΠΕΛΛΙΚΩΝ — ΑΡΙΣΤΟΤΕΛΗΣApellikon — AristotelesDemeterThompson
p. 389
ΗΡΑΚΛΩΝ — ΗΡΑΚΛΕΙΔΗΣEraklon — ErakleidesEagle headThompson
p. 389
ΦΙΛΟΚΡΑΤΗΣ — ΚΑΛΛΙΦΩΝPhilokrates — KalliphonNikeThompson
p. 390
ΤΡΥΦΩΝ — ΠΟΛΥΧΑΡΜΟΣTryphon — PolycharmosHekateThompson
p. 390
ΤΟ ΤΡΙ ΔΙΟΚΛΗΣ — ΔΙΟΔΩΡΟΣTo Tri Diokles — DiodorosDionysosThompson
p. 390
ΔΙΟΚΛΗΣ ΜΕΛΙ — ΜΗΔΕΙΟΣDiokles Meli — MedeiosAthena ParthenosThompson
p. 391
ΑΠΟΛΗΞΙΣ — ΛΥΣΑΝΔΡΟΣApolexis — LysandrosArtemisThompson
p. 391
New Style reverse inscriptions

Names, month letters and controls

Magistrate names

Two principal officials appear as names or monograms. A third, shorter-term name occurs during part of the series. These are separate fields in a specimen record: a match for the principal pair does not establish the complete variety. Kroll 1993, p. 14.

Letters on the amphora

These designate months of the Athenian civil calendar. Thompson records interruptions in their early use; hemidrachms omit them, and some drachms do too. A missing or unreadable letter should remain unrecorded. Thompson 1961, pp. 608–613.

Control combinations

Combinations normally lie below the amphora or in the left field; early exceptions place them on the amphora. Their administrative meaning is debated. Kroll describes a possible association with bullion sources, rather than an established expansion of each abbreviation. Thompson 1961, pp. 613–622; Kroll 1993, p. 14.

Catalogue notation

In Thompson, an Arabic number identifies an obverse die; letters distinguish its associated reverse dies. Thus a reference such as 348a is more precise than the magistrate pair alone. Her catalogue records third magistrate, month and control in that order. Thompson 1961, p. 30.

29 control families in Thompson’s inventory
  1. ΑΝ
  2. ΑΠ, ΑΠΟ
  3. ΑΡ
  4. ΒΙ, ΒΙΑ
  5. ΓΛ
  6. ΔΑ
  7. ΔΗ
  8. ΔΙ, ΔΙΟ
  9. ΕΜ, ΕΜΦ
  10. ΕΠ, ΕΠΙ
  11. ΕΡ
  12. ΕΥ
  13. ΖΩ
  14. ΗΡ, ΗΡΑ
  15. ΘΥ
  16. ΙΣ, ΙΣΙ
  17. ΚΕ
  18. ΚΤ, ΚΤΗ
  19. ΜΕ, ΜΕΝ, ΜΕΝΕ
  20. ΜΗ
  21. ΜΟ
  22. ΠΕ, ΠΕΡ
  23. ΠΡ, ΠΡΟ, ΠΡΩ
  24. ΣΟ, ΣΟΛ
  25. ΣΤ, ΣΤΕ
  26. ΣΦ, ΣΦΑ, ΣΦΑΙ
  27. ΣΩ
  28. ΤΙ, ΤΙΓ
  29. ΦΙ

Variants are grouped as on p. 613. Thompson regards the isolated ΠΡΩ as probably an error for ΠΡΟ and discusses erroneous forms related to ΕΜΦ in n. 3. These are control readings, not expanded personal names. Thompson 1961, p. 613 and nn. 3–4.

One magistrate pair, several reverse varieties

For the Asklepios issue ΜΕΝΕΔ — ΕΠΙΓΕΝΟ, Thompson records nine reverse dies under obverse die 348. The third-magistrate readings and amphora letters change through the group; different controls also occur within a single month. Entries a and d have the same recorded fields but are separate reverse dies.

Thompson 348a–i: separate reverse dies and recorded fields
ReferenceThird officialMonthControl
348aΘΕΟΦΡΑΑΠ
348bΘΕΟΦΡΑΗΡ
348cΘΕΟΦΡΑΣΩ
348dΘΕΟΦΡΑΑΠ
348eΔΙΟΔΒΣΩ
348fΔΙΟΔΒΓΛ
348gΔΙΟΔΒΗΡ
348hΔΙΟΔΟΒΣΩ
348iΦΙΛΟΘΓΣΩ

Thompson 1961, p. 138, nos. 348a–i. Names and controls alone do not distinguish every die.

04 · Hoards and find evidence

Hoards and find evidence

The following examples document hoard composition, proposed burial dates and evidence for minting technique.

Hoard contents and excavation finds describe different samples. Kroll records 129 Athenian silver coins and imitations among nearly 14,000 Athenian coins from the Agora: less than one per cent of that excavated assemblage. These counts concern recovered material, not the proportions originally minted. Kroll 1993, pp. 1–5.

The surviving miniature ceramic jug from the Piraeus hoard, with its broken neck and worn painted surface.
The hoard’s miniature jug. Surviving height: 7.5 cm.
Thompson 1957, p. 1 n. 1, pl. IV (detail) · © American Numismatic Society.
Composition of the Piraeus hoard

Triobols: 64 of 89 coins (71.9%).

Published coin counts and calculated value in obols for each denomination
DenominationCoinsValue (obols)
Drachms212
Triobols64192
Diobols714
Obols77
Tritartemoria75¼
Hemiobols21
Total89231¼

Values are calculated from the published denomination identifications: 1 drachm = 6 obols. The total is equivalent to 38 drachms and 3¼ obols.

Counts: Thompson 1957, pp. 1–5Denominations: Kroll 2011, pp. 246–248

Both sides of the two drachms in the Piraeus hoard, numbered 1 and 2 in Thompson’s catalogue.
Drachms, nos. 1–2Recorded weights: 4.09 and 4.28 g respectively. Thompson identified no. 1 as the more worn specimen.Thompson 1957, pp. 1, 7; pl. I (detail) · © ANS.
Seven triobols from the Piraeus hoard, catalogue numbers 60–66, showing Athena above and the facing owl below.
Triobols, nos. 60–66The reverse type is a facing owl. Recorded weights range from 2.09 to 2.14 g.Thompson 1957, p. 3; pl. III (detail) · © ANS.
Piraeus hoard · catalogue specimens

Smaller silver denominations

All four specimens have Athena’s head on the obverse, shown above the reverse. The different reverse types distinguish denominations within the small silver series. Weights are Thompson’s measurements of the individual coins. Images are enlarged independently.

Piraeus hoard diobol, Thompson no. 73: obverse above, reverse below. Double-bodied owl with a single facing head; olive sprays in the upper field.
DiobolNo. 73 · 2 obols · 1.47 gDouble-bodied owl with a single facing head; olive sprays in the upper field.Thompson 1957, pp. 3–4, pl. III
© American Numismatic Society.
Piraeus hoard obol, Thompson no. 80: obverse above, reverse below. Four crescents arranged back to back. The other six obols in the hoard have an owl reverse.
ObolNo. 80 · 1 obol · 0.59 gFour crescents arranged back to back. The other six obols in the hoard have an owl reverse.Thompson 1957, p. 4, pl. IV
© American Numismatic Society.
Piraeus hoard tritartemorion, Thompson no. 84: obverse above, reverse below. Three crescents with their horns directed inward.
TritartemorionNo. 84 · ¾ obol · 0.53 gThree crescents with their horns directed inward.Thompson 1957, pp. 4–5, pl. IV
© American Numismatic Society.
Piraeus hoard hemiobol, Thompson no. 88: obverse above, reverse below. Facing owl with closed wings; an inward-facing crescent on either side of its head.
HemiobolNo. 88 · ½ obol · 0.39 gFacing owl with closed wings; an inward-facing crescent on either side of its head.Thompson 1957, p. 5, pl. IV
© American Numismatic Society.
Minting technique

Folded flans

Kroll interprets the seams visible on the edges as evidence that earlier coins were flattened, folded and restruck. The photographs show the obverse, reverse and edge of each specimen.7

The two Pi II tetradrachms are from the Near East and Attica/Piraeus hoards cited by Kroll. The Thessaly specimen documents the continued use of folded flans in the third century BC.7

Kroll 2011, figs. 6c–d & 10a ↗
Two pi-style tetradrachms shown in obverse, reverse and edge views. Their irregular outlines and layered edges reveal folded silver blanks.
Pi II tetradrachmsLeft: Near East hoard, ANS 2006.12.169. Right: Attica/Piraeus hoard, ANS 1944.100.24306.Kroll 2011, p. 243, fig. 6c–d.
Photos © J. H. Kroll; courtesy ANS.
A third-century Athenian tetradrachm from the Thessaly hoard, shown from the front, back and edge.
Thessaly hoard tetradrachm280s BC. Thessaly hoard (IGCH 168), ANS 1944.100.24566.Kroll 2011, p. 246, fig. 10a.
Photos © J. H. Kroll; courtesy ANS.

Illustrations are reproduced at different scales; displayed dimensions do not indicate relative coin diameters.

Bibliography

Selected reference works

The Athenian coinage guide
Catalogue

BMC Attica, Megaris and Aegina

B. V. Head · BMC Attica · 1888

Specimen descriptions and catalogue references for the coinages of Attica, Megaris and Aegina.

Read in libraryTypology

From Wappenmünzen to Gorgoneia to Owls

John H. Kroll · 1981

An analysis of the Wappenmünzen types and the role of the gorgoneion issues in the transition to owl coinage.

Source referenceChronology

The Archaic Owls of Athens

Colin M. Kraay · 1956

A reassessment of the classification and dating of the early owl series, based on the numismatic evidence and earlier scholarship.

Source reference
Catalogue

Works on Attica

Search the texts

Dates and attributions in older catalogues may differ from those adopted in later studies.

Browse all 12 references
  1. Doctrine of Ancient Coins, vol. 4Josef Hilarius Eckhel · 1795 · Latin · Handbook / ManualRead in library
  2. Description of Ancient Greek and Roman Medals, vol. 3 (1824)Théodore E. Mionnet · 1824 · French · Specialized CorpusRead in library
  3. The Coins of AthensErnest Beulé · 1858 · French · Handbook / ManualSource reference
  4. A Numismatic Commentary on PausaniasFriedrich Imhoof-Blumer & Percy Gardner · 1887 · English · Specialized CorpusRead in library
  5. A Catalogue of the Greek Coins in the British Museum: Attica, Megaris, AeginaBarclay V. Head · 1888 · English · Regional and Civic CatalogueRead in library
  6. Common Greek Coins, Vol. IAlfred Watson Hands · 1907 · English · Handbook / ManualRead in library
  7. Treatise on Greek and Roman Coins, Part II (Historical Description), vol. IIIErnest Babelon · 1914 · French · Specialized CorpusRead in library
  8. Athens: Its History and Coinage before the Persian InvasionCharles T. Seltman · 1924 · English · Handbook / ManualRead in library
  9. The Archaic Owls of Athens: Classification and ChronologyColin M. Kraay · 1956 · English · Research ArticleSource reference
  10. The Celenderis HoardColin M. Kraay · 1962 · English · Research ArticleSource reference
  11. From Wappenmünzen to Gorgoneia to OwlsJohn H. Kroll · 1981 · English · Research ArticleSource reference
  12. New Specimens of Athenian Coinage, 480–449 BCChester G. Starr · 1982 · English · Research ArticleSource reference
Sources & image credits
  1. The Acropolis and the cult of AthenaUNESCO World Heritage Centre
  2. Athenian silver and the tetradrachmThe Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. The illustrated coin: 449–407 BCCleveland Museum of Art, 1916.992
  4. The leases of the Laureion minesMargaret Crosby, Hesperia 19 (1950), pp. 189–312
  5. The Greek Coins · Athenian Agora XXVIJohn H. Kroll, with Alan S. Walker (1993). Silver: pp. 4–15; bronze denominations: pp. 37–39.
  6. A Hoard of Athenian FractionsMargaret Thompson, ANS Museum Notes 7 (1957), pp. 1–11, pls. I–IV. Find and catalogue: pp. 1–5; interpretation and proposed date: pp. 6–11.
  7. The Reminting of Athenian Silver Coinage, 353 B.C.John H. Kroll, Hesperia 80 (2011), pp. 229–259. Folded flans: pp. 234–245; third-century coins and silver units: pp. 246–248.
  8. The New Style Silver Coinage of AthensMargaret Thompson, Numismatic Studies 10 (1961). Issue sequence: pp. 27–29; catalogue notation: p. 30; magistrates: pp. 546–599; symbols: pp. 600–607; amphora letters and controls: pp. 608–622. Its original dates are superseded; compare Kroll 1993, pp. 13–15.

Landscape photograph. Acropolis panoramic view from Areopagus hill, Ggia, 24 October 2010. CC BY-SA 3.0. Wikimedia Commons web rendition; no crop or other alteration.

Coin photographs. Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of J. H. Wade, 1916.992.a (obverse) and 1916.992.b (reverse). CC0. Museum web renditions, unaltered. Date and measurements follow the museum record; type descriptions may also be compared with Kroll 1993, p. 17, no. 8. The museum’s 449–407 BC dating applies to this specimen; the timeline follows Kroll’s broader chronology.

Piraeus hoard illustrations. Selected figure details from Thompson 1957: the jug from pl. IV; drachms 1–2 from pl. I; triobols 60–66 and diobol 73 from pl. III; obol 80, tritartemorion 84 and hemiobol 88 from pl. IV. © American Numismatic Society. These are excerpts for discussion of the published find; no open licence is claimed. Figure boundaries are selected without retouching the objects.

Hoard coins in colour. Kroll 2011, p. 243, fig. 6c–d, and p. 246, fig. 10a. Photographs © J. H. Kroll; courtesy of the American Numismatic Society. The article’s p. 229 n. 1 provides for noncommercial image reproduction. The relevant coin illustrations are extracted from their page layouts, without retouching.