Ancient Greek Coins of Miletus

Robert J. O’Hara (rjohara@post.harvard.edu)

The ancient Greek city of Miletus in Asia Minor, on what is now the west coast of Turkey, was the intellectual and commercial center of the Greek world in the century before Athens rose to prominence. It has been called the birthplace of the modern world. These pages discuss the early history of coinage and present a detailed outline of Milesian coin types from the Greek and Roman periods.

PAGES: Illustrated table of contents—Illustrated numerical catalogue—History and weight standards—Chronological table—The electrum lion coins of the kings of Lydia (1)—The enigmatic “geometric” electrum series (1)—The sixth-century electrum lion coins of Miletus (2)—The electrum and silver lion/scorpion issues (3)—The silver eye-swirl/quincunx fractions (12)—The dotted lion-mask series (7)—The archaic twelfth-stater series (21)—The silver Milesian-style lion/bird fractions (14)—The lion-head/lion-scalp series (2)—Milesian imitatives of Hecatomnus, Mausolus, and Hidrieus (2)—The fourth-century bronze lion/sun series (3)—The Rhodian silver and bronze Apollo/lion series (7)—Early silver and bronze of Alexander the Great (5)—The reduced-Rhodian didrachms and their parallel bronzes (3)—The later Diadochian and civic Alexander types (2)—The third-century Persic silver and bronze Apollo/lion series (2)—The bronze facing-Apollo coinage (6)—The second-century silver Apollo/lion issues (5)—The wreathed bronze Apollo/lion series (8)—The bronze Apollo of Didyma series (2)—Provincial bronzes of Nero (2)—Provincial bronzes of Domitian (1)—Provincial bronzes of Faustina the Younger (1)—Provincial bronzes of Gordian III (1)—The Ottoman silver akçes of fifteenth-century Balad (1)—References and literature cited—Ancient coin resources online.

(1) The Fourth-Century Rhodian Silver and Bronze Apollo / Lion Series

The Rhodian-standard silver issues described below, minted in the mid-fourth century BC, were the first autonomous silver coins produced by Miletus since the destruction of the city by the Persians in 494 BC. With their contemporary bronze counterparts they are also the first Milesian coins to feature Apollo, the patron of the city, and versions of the broad Apollo/lion type represented here continued to be issued at Miletus for the next two centuries.

The Apollo/lion type as a whole has been monographed by Deppert-Lippitz (1984), and her classification forms the initial basis for the arrangement below, subject to important revisions by Kinns (1986), Ashton et al. (2002b), and Ashton and Kinns (2003).

(1a) The rare fourth-century Rhodian hemidrachms of Didyma. Deppert-Lippitz briefly mentions (1984: 17) a rare fourth-century silver hemidrachm issue of Miletus inscribed ΕΓ ΔΙΔΥΜΩΝ ΙΕΡΗ and featuring a three-quarter facing portrait of Apollo on the obverse (Sear, 1979: #4504), a design similar to that seen on the third-century facing-Apollo bronze series (and also on the mid-fourth century silver of Hidrieus and Pixodarus). In his commentary on Deppert-Lippitz’s monograph, Kinns (1986: 237, n. 8) cites three known specimens: “BMC 51; Naville sale 5.2574 (ex BMC 52); Paris. All from same dies?” The precise chronological placement of this rare issue is uncertain, and no examples are included in this collection.

(2) Miletus · Laureate Head of Apollo / Lion Statant Regardant · Silver · About 353–323 BC

Included under this heading are the four series of silver Rhodian-standard tetradrachms (about 15.3 g), drachms (about 3.7 g), and hemidrachms (about 1.8 g) struck during Deppert-Lippitz’s Period I (1984: #1–257), which she dates from the death of Mausolus in 353 BC to the death of Alexander in 323 BC. The Rhodian standard, also known as the Chian standard, “achieved considerable popularity in Asia Minor [after 400 BC], and was also adopted at Ainos in Thrace. It was based on a tetradrachm of 15.6 gm” (Sear, 1979: xxxi; see also Kraay, 1976: 247ff.; Melville Jones, 1986: 51, 202). In all these Rhodian-weight issues both the head of Apollo and the standing lion are to the left, and only rarely is an exergue line present. Deppert-Lippitz recognizes four chronological groupings based on die linkages and stylistic considerations, as shown below, with additions and corrections supplied from the subsequent work of Philip Kinns and his colleagues.

• Series I: Drachms (D-L #1–18) featuring the names ΛΕΥΚΙΠΠΟΣ, ΛΕΟΖΥΓΩΣ (corrected from ΛΕΟΖΥΓΟΣ; Kinns, 1986: 237), ΘΕΥΓΝΗΤΟΣ, ΗΡΑΓΟΡΑΣ, ΠΟΣΙΣ, ΜΕΛΑΙΝΕΥΣ, ΕΥΠΟΛΙΣ, ΕΠΑΜΕΝΩΝ (or ΕΠΑΜΕΙΝΩΝ; Kinns, 1986: 237), ΜΝΗΣΙΘΕΟΣ, ΑΝΤΙΠΑΤΡΟΣ, and ΧΑΡΟΠΙΝΟΣ. Kinns adds the name ΖΕΥΞΙΛΕΩΣ and argues that the coins of ΜΝΗΣΙΘΕΟΣ, ΑΝΤΙΠΑΤΡΟΣ, ΖΕΥΞΙΛΕΩΣ, and ΧΑΡΟΠΙΝΟΣ, which have six-pointed suns/stars, are the earliest in the series (Kinns, 1986; Ashton and Kinns, 2003; see below).
• Series I: Hemidrachms (D-L #19–67) featuring the names ΠΟΣΙΣ, ΜΕΛΑΙΝΕΥΣ, ΕΥΠΟΛΙΣ, ΗΡΑΓΟΡΑΣ, ΣΚΥΘΗΣ, ΘΕΥΓΝΗΤΟΣ, ΘΕΟΔΟΤΙΔΗΣ, ΧΑΡΙΛΑΣ, ΠΥΘΩΝ, ΑΛΚΙΜΑΧΟΣ, ΑΝΤΙΑΝΔΡΟΣ, ΑΝΔΡΙΟΣ, ΔΗΜΕΑΣ, ΠΡΟΞΕΝΟΣ, ΔΙΟΔΩΡΟΣ (?), and ΛΑΜΙΟΣ. Kinns notes (1986: 249–251) that the name ΧΑΡΙΛΑΣ on D-L #46–49 is in fact written ΧΑΡΙΛΑϹ (with a lunate sigma), and that some of the hemidrachms of ΜΕΛΑΙΝΕΥΣ, ΕΥΠΟΛΙΣ, ΣΚΥΘΗΣ, ΘΕΥΓΝΗΤΟΣ, and ΠΥΘΩΝ have six-pointed suns/stars.

• Series II: Tetradrachms (D-L #68–93) featuring the names ΔΗΜΑΙΝΟΣ, ΘΕΟΠΡΟΠΟΣ, ΛΗΝΑΙΟΣ, ΒΡΕΜΩΝ, ΣΤΡΑΤΙΔΗΣ, ΔΑΜΝΑΣ, and ΛΥΚΟΣ. Study of the Pixodaros Hoard (Ashton et al., 2002b) adds the names ΣΙΜΟΣ, ΚΑΛΛΑΙΣΧΡΟΣ, and ΕΟΑΝΘΗΣ.
• Series II: Drachms (D-L #94–151) featuring the names ΔΗΜΑΙΝΟΣ, ΘΕΥΠΡΟΠΟΣ/ΘΕΟΠΡΟΠΟΣ, ΛΗΝΑΙΟΣ, ΔΑΜΝΑΣ, ΒΡΕΜΩΝ, ΣΙΜΟΣ, ΣΤΡΑΤΙΔΗΣ, ΘΕΟΓΝΗΤΟΣ, ΛΥΚΟΣ, ΚΑΛΛΑΙΣΧΡΟΣ, ΕΡΑΣΙΝΟΣ, and ΕΟΣΕΒΗΣ.
• Series II: Hemidrachms (D-L #152–156) featuring the names ΔΗΜΑΙΝΟΣ, ΘΕΟΠΡΟΠΟΣ, and ΣΤΡΑΤΙΔΗΣ.

• Series III: Tetradrachms (D-L #157–159) featuring the name ΑΡΤΕΜΩΝ.
• Series III: Drachms (D-L #160–183) featuring the names ΑΡΤΕΜΩΝ, ΑΝΤΙΠΑΤΡΟΣ, ΡΟΔΙΟΣ, ΠΑΝΤΑΙΝΟΣ (or ΠΑΝΤΑΙΝΕ[ΤΟΣ]; Kinns, 1986: 237), and ΝΟΣΣΟΣ.
• Series III: Hemidrachms (D-L #184–196) featuring the names ΑΡΤΕΜΩΝ, ΑΝΤΙΠΑΤΡΟΣ, ΡΟΔΙΟΣ, ΠΑΝΤΑΙΝΟΣ, and ΝΟΣΣΟΣ.

• Series IV: Drachms (D-L #197–236a) featuring the names ΟΡΝΥΜΕΝΟΣ, ΜΗΤΡΟΔΩΡΟΣ, ΛΑΜΠΙΣ, ΝΕΩΝ, ΛΥΚΟΣ, ΒΑΤΤΟΣ, ΚΥΔΙΜΟΣ, ΕΠΙΓΟΝΟΣ, ΑΡΙΣΤΑΓΟΡΑΣ, ΤΙΜΟΣΤΡΑΤΟΣ, ΕΠΙΝΙΚΟΣ, ΤΕΛΕΣΙΑΣ, ΔΙΟΠΟΜΠΟΣ, and ΠΡΟΞΕΝΟΣ. Kinns (1986: 238) adds the name [ΦΑ]ΝΟΔΙΚΟΣ, a corrected reading for D-L #217 (ΚΥΔΙΜΟΣ).
• Series IV: Hemidrachms (D-L #237–257) featuring the names ΔΙΟΠΟΜΠΟΣ, ΠΡΟΞΕΝΟΣ, and [Α]ΡΙΣΤΑΓΟΡΑΣ.

• Series not specified: Kinns (1986: 238) reports additional drachms featuring the names ΗΓΗΣΑΓΟΡΑΣ and [Θ]ΕΡΣΙΤΗΣ (“perhaps a misreading of D-L 148(b) ΕΟΣΕΒΗΣ”).

In his essay-review of Deppert-Lippitz’s monograph, Kinns (1986: 238–239) lists more than 60 additional specimens from these series that were not included in D-L’s survey, including drachms that name four additional magistrates as noted above. He also observes that a small number of coins from D-L’s Series I feature suns/stars with only six points rather than the usual eight, a detail that connects them with the bronze issues of the same period (see below) and places them at the beginning of the entire range of Apollo/lion silver: “In view of the exceptional six-rayed stars on the drachm reverses of ΜΝΗΣΙΘΕΟΣ, ΑΝΤΙΠΑΤΡΟΣ, and ΧΑΡΟΠΙΝΟΣ (D-L 15–17), which share an obverse die of notably high quality (V10=V11), one is tempted to ask whether these are not the first silver coins of fourth-century Miletus; the small well-formed letters of their legends are also noteworthy” (Kinns, 1986: 250).

The “Pixodarus Hoard,” buried about 341/340 BC in ancient Halicarnassus (modern Bodrum), included about 30 Milesian tetradrachms from Deppert-Lippitz’s Series II representing all of the attested magistrates, and allows the date of the tetradrachms in that series to be fixed very close to 340 BC (Hurter, 1998; Ashton et al., 2002b: 206–209, pls. 29–30). These coins are tightly die-linked, and Andrew Meadows, who studied the Milesian specimens in the Pixodarus Hoard, infers from this that “at Miletus, we are undoubtedly faced with a ‘board’ or ‘boards’ of magistrates striking contemporaneously, rather than sequentially” (Ashton et al., 2002b: 208). Comparison of the Pixodarus specimens with those of slightly later hoards indicates that

there was clearly, as Deppert–Lippitz suggested, an interval between the tetradrachms of Series II (finished by c. 341/0) and the tetradrachm issue of Artemon, and the smaller denominations that seem to accompany it (Series III). The absence of any issues of Series III from the Pithyos hoard [IGCH #1217, buried about 335 BC] further suggests that this later Series all belongs post c. 335. Between c. 341/0 and 335 there may simply have been a gap in production at the Milesian mint, or it may be that to these years belong the issues of the Series II magistrates known only from drachms (Theognetos, Erasinos and Eosebes, D-L. 140, 148 and 149).

The date of the beginning of the tetradrachm issues of Series II must remain an area for speculation. The eight obverse dies used to strike all the known specimens represent perhaps no more than four or five years continuous production at a major city such as Miletus. [Ashton et al., 2002b: 209]

The headings used below summarize current understanding of the varieties and chronology of all the fourth-century Rhodian-standard Apollo/lion issues, as detailed above.

(2a) Series I: AR Rhodian Drachms (3.7 g) · About 353–345 BC

Specimens are recorded that name ΛΕΥΚΙΠΠΟΣ, ΛΕΟΖΥΓΩΣ, ΘΕΥΓΝΗΤΟΣ, ΗΡΑΓΟΡΑΣ, ΠΟΣΙΣ, ΜΕΛΑΙΝΕΥΣ, ΕΥΠΟΛΙΣ, ΕΠΑΜΕΝΩΝ (or ΕΠΑΜΕΙΝΩΝ), ΜΝΗΣΙΘΕΟΣ, ΑΝΤΙΠΑΤΡΟΣ, ΖΕΥΞΙΛΕΩΣ, and ΧΑΡΟΠΙΝΟΣ, with the the last four magistrates, whose coins have six-pointed suns/stars, standing at the beginning of the series. No examples are included in this collection.

(2b) Series I: AR Rhodian Hemidrachms (1.8 g) · About 353–345 BC

Specimens are recorded that name ΠΟΣΙΣ, ΜΕΛΑΙΝΕΥΣ, ΕΥΠΟΛΙΣ, ΗΡΑΓΟΡΑΣ, ΣΚΥΘΗΣ, ΘΕΥΓΝΗΤΟΣ, ΘΕΟΔΟΤΙΔΗΣ, ΧΑΡΙΛΑϹ, ΠΥΘΩΝ, ΑΛΚΙΜΑΧΟΣ, ΑΝΤΙΑΝΔΡΟΣ, ΑΝΔΡΙΟΣ, ΔΗΜΕΑΣ, ΠΡΟΞΕΝΟΣ, ΔΙΟΔΩΡΟΣ (?), and ΛΑΜΙΟΣ. One example is included in this collection. Some, though not all, of the specimens naming ΜΕΛΑΙΝΕΥΣ, ΕΥΠΟΛΙΣ, ΣΚΥΘΗΣ, ΘΕΥΓΝΗΤΟΣ, and ΠΥΘΩΝ have six-pointed suns/stars.

(2c) Series II: AR Rhodian Tetradrachms (15.3 g) · About 345–340 BC

Specimens are recorded that name ΔΗΜΑΙΝΟΣ, ΘΕΟΠΡΟΠΟΣ, ΛΗΝΑΙΟΣ, ΒΡΕΜΩΝ, ΣΤΡΑΤΙΔΗΣ, ΔΑΜΝΑΣ, ΛΥΚΟΣ, ΣΙΜΟΣ, ΚΑΛΛΑΙΣΧΡΟΣ, and ΕΟΑΝΘΗΣ. No examples are included in this collection.

(2d) Series II: AR Rhodian Drachms (3.7 g) · About 345–340 BC

Specimens are recorded that name ΔΗΜΑΙΝΟΣ, ΘΕΥΠΡΟΠΟΣ/ΘΕΟΠΡΟΠΟΣ, ΛΗΝΑΙΟΣ, ΔΑΜΝΑΣ, ΒΡΕΜΩΝ, ΣΙΜΟΣ, ΣΤΡΑΤΙΔΗΣ, ΘΕΟΓΝΗΤΟΣ, ΛΥΚΟΣ, ΚΑΛΛΑΙΣΧΡΟΣ, ΕΡΑΣΙΝΟΣ, and ΕΟΣΕΒΗΣ. No examples are included in this collection.

(2e) Series II: AR Rhodian Hemidrachms (1.8 g) · About 345–340 BC

Specimens are recorded that name ΔΗΜΑΙΝΟΣ, ΘΕΟΠΡΟΠΟΣ, and ΣΤΡΑΤΙΔΗΣ. No examples are included in this collection.

(2f) Series III: AR Rhodian Tetradrachms (15.3 g) · About 335–323 BC

Specimens are recorded that name ΑΡΤΕΜΩΝ. No examples are included in this collection.

(2g) Series III: AR Rhodian Drachms (3.7 g) · About 335–323 BC

Specimens are recorded that name ΑΡΤΕΜΩΝ, ΑΝΤΙΠΑΤΡΟΣ, ΡΟΔΙΟΣ, ΠΑΝΤΑΙΝΟΣ (or ΠΑΝΤΑΙΝΕ[ΤΟΣ]), and ΝΟΣΣΟΣ. Two examples are included in this collection.

(2h) Series III: AR Rhodian Hemidrachms (1.8 g) · About 335–323 BC

Specimens are recorded that name ΑΡΤΕΜΩΝ, ΑΝΤΙΠΑΤΡΟΣ, ΡΟΔΙΟΣ, ΠΑΝΤΑΙΝΟΣ, and ΝΟΣΣΟΣ. No examples are included in this collection.

(2i) Series IV: AR Rhodian Drachms (3.7 g) · About 335–323 BC

Specimens are recorded that name ΟΡΝΥΜΕΝΟΣ, ΜΗΤΡΟΔΩΡΟΣ, ΛΑΜΠΙΣ, ΝΕΩΝ, ΛΥΚΟΣ, ΒΑΤΤΟΣ, ΚΥΔΙΜΟΣ, ΕΠΙΓΟΝΟΣ, ΑΡΙΣΤΑΓΟΡΑΣ, ΤΙΜΟΣΤΡΑΤΟΣ, ΕΠΙΝΙΚΟΣ, ΤΕΛΕΣΙΑΣ, ΔΙΟΠΟΜΠΟΣ, ΠΡΟΞΕΝΟΣ, and [ΦΑ]ΝΟΔΙΚΟΣ. No examples are included in this collection.

(2j) Series IV: AR Rhodian Hemidrachms (1.8 g) · About 335–323 BC

Specimens are recorded that name ΔΙΟΠΟΜΠΟΣ, ΠΡΟΞΕΝΟΣ, and [Α]ΡΙΣΤΑΓΟΡΑΣ. No examples are included in this collection.

(2k) Series Unknown: AR Drachms (3.7 g) and Hemidrachms (1.8 g) · About 353–323 BC

One fourrée specimen—an ancient counterfeit—is included here.

(3) Miletus · Laureate Head of Apollo / Lion Statant Regardant · Bronze · About 353–323 BC

Included under this heading is the bronze coinage that Deppert-Lippitz assigns to her Period II (1984: #304–435). She dates these issues from the time of the liberation of Miletus by Antigonus Monophthalmos to its takeover by Lysimachus (about 313–290 BC). In his essay-review of Deppert-Lippitz’s monograph, Kinns argues that these bronze coins are in fact contemporaneous with the first Rhodian-standard Apollo/lion issues in silver (described above), and began to appear about 350 BC (1986: 249–253). In the silver issues, Apollo and the lion face left; in the bronze, they face right. Five series are recognized by Deppert-Lippitz, issued under a variety of magistrates as noted below, with Kinns’ detailed reasoning on the chronology added. The ΜΙ monogram is not present on any of these coins, and an exergue line is present only on a few of the bronzes in Series IV, which may have been issued later.

• Series I: 15–16 mm and 3.2–3.5 g (D-L #304–317) featuring the names ΕΠΙΣΘΕΝΗΣ, ΔΙΟΝΥΣΙΟΣ, ΧΑΡΟΠΙΝΟΣ, ΛΥΚΟΜΗΔΗΣ, ΣΦΟΔΡΙΣ [corrected from D-L’s ΣΘΟΔΡΙΣ], ΒΙΟΝ, and ΑΝΤΙΠΑΤΡΟΣ. Kinns add the names ΕΓΔΙΚΟΣ, [ΕΡ]ΓΙΝΟΣ, [ΛΑ]ΜΠΙΤΟΣ, ΖΕΥΞΙΛΕΩ[Σ], ΛΕΥΚΙΠΠΟΣ, ΝΙΚΟΛΟΧΟΣ, ΞΕΝΟΚΡΙΤΟΣ, and [Π]ΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ[ΙΟΣ] (Ashton and Kinns, 2003: 6–8). In this series the names run vertically to the right of the lion, rather than horizontally in the exergue; in most they run vertically downwards, but in the specimens of ΧΑΡΟΠΙΝΟΣ and ΖΕΥΞΙΛΕΩ[Σ] they run vertically upwards. In addition, the reverse stars of ΛΥΚΟΜΗΔΗΣ, ΕΓΔΙΚΟΣ, [ΕΡ]ΓΙΝΟΣ, and [Π]ΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ[ΙΟΣ] six-pointed rather than eight-pointed. These details provide evidence of the contemporaneous origin of both the silver and bronze Apollo/lion types, first suggested by Kinns in 1986:

  It can in fact be demonstrated that the Apollo/lion types were introduced simultaneously for both silver and bronze coins, probably some time in the 350s.… The argument centres upon the Apollo/lion bronzes with magistrate’s name vertically at right (nos. 304–20, 322–3), rather than horizontally below. Only nine names are recorded thus, with ΑΝΤΙΠΑΤΡΟΣ appearing on two denominations (nos. 313, 318). The name usually reads downwards, except in the case of ΧΑΡΟΠΙΝΟΣ (no. 306), where it reads upwards. In a coinage like that of Miletus, unchanging over long periods, such a variation is significant, although unnoticed by D-L. That these coins with vertical name are the earliest bronzes in these types is clear enough; it would not be unreasonable to argue further that the coin of ΧΑΡΟΠΙΝΟΣ is the earliest extant issue. Since ΧΑΡΟΠΙΝΟΣ and ΑΝΤΙΠΑΤΡΟΣ also feature, sharing an obverse die, in D-L’s earliest series of drachms, there is a very strong presumption that the bronze and silver coins of these two men are contemporary, and one ΧΑΡΟΠΙΝΟΣ is recorded as an eponymous magistrate in 352/1 (D-L, p. 30). Confirmation of such contemporaneity is surely provided by an iconographic detail which again D-L has overlooked. For precisely within the small series of silver drachms and hemidrachms to which ΧΑΡΟΠΙΝΟΣ and ΑΝΤΙΠΑΤΡΟΣ belong (D-L, pls. 1–2, nos. 15–17, 22, 27, 34, 36, 39, 40, 51), stars with six rather than the usual eight rays are found; this rare variation is also found on bronze no. 307 (pl. 10) with vertical name ΛΥΚΟΜΗΔΗΣ. [Kinns, 1986: 249–250.]

  The contemporaneity of D-L’s Period I Rhodian silver and Period II bronze and the priority of the magistrate ΧΑΡΟΠΙΝΟΣ within both these groups has been further confirmed by the new specimens naming ΕΓΔΙΚΟΣ, [ΕΡ]ΓΙΝΟΣ, [ΛΑ]ΜΠΙΤΟΣ, ΖΕΥΞΙΛΕΩ[Σ], ΛΕΥΚΙΠΠΟΣ, ΝΙΚΟΛΟΧΟΣ, ΞΕΝΟΚΡΙΤΟΣ, and [Π]ΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ[ΙΟΣ]:

  Whereas Egdikos, Erginos, Lampitos, Nikolochos, Xenokritos and Poseidonios are otherwise unknown from 4th century Milesian coins, Zeuxileos and Leukippos are both recorded on silver drachms, and precisely within D-L’s first series (1–18). The new connexions that have emerged are highly significant. In my original review of D-L [quoted above] I suggested that the bronze of Charopinos (D-L 306), then unique in having the name reading vertically upwards, might be the first issue of these types, and further, on independent grounds, that the drachm of the same man (D-L 18) represented the first silver issue, pace D-L, who placed Leukippos at the beginning. We now find parallel die-links in both metals between Charopinos and Zeuxileos, and the Zeuxileos bronze also has the name reading upwards. This is undoubtedly sufficient proof of the contemporaneity of the first drachms series and the vertical name bronzes, and the probability that these are the initial magistrates is clearly strong. One of the arguments for the priority of Charopinos in silver was the presence on his and associated reverses of six-pointed stars (rather than eight pointed), which seemed likely to be an early feature in a coinage which soon became fixed in its details. Here again we have corroboration that this is no random variation; both the Zeuxileos drachm and the new bronzes of Erginos and Poseidonios have six-pointed stars, with the last probably die-linked with the one such bronze in D-L (307, Lykomedes). [A six-pointed star also appears on the single ΧΑΡΟ bronze from Series V (D-L #407); see below. —RJO]

  Conversely, the fact that the new bronze of Leukippos has eight-pointed star and name reading downwards, and is therefore ‘normal’ in both respects, tends to confirm that his issues belong later in their respective series.

  There can no longer be any doubt of the contemporaneity of D-L 304–13 with the first series of Apollo/lion silver (D-L 1–67), whereas Deppert-Lippitz proposed an inteval of forty years between them. Both should be dated c. 360–350. [Ashton and Kinns, 2003: 7–8]

• Series II: 13 mm and 2.0 g (D-L #318–335) featuring the names ΑΝΤΙΠΑΤΡΟΣ, ΙΣΤΙΚΑΣ (or ΙΣΤΙΚΩΝ; Kinns, 1986: 237), ΟΡΝΥΜΕΝΟΣ, ΦΙΛΟΚΛΗΣ, ΕΥΚΤΗΜ[…], ΑΝΤΙΑ[…], [Π]ΟΔΙΟ[Σ], ΛΑΜΠΡΟΜΑΧΟΣ, and ΜΟΛΠΑΓΟΡΑΣ. Kinns (1986: 241) adds the names ΑΡΧΕΜΑΧΟΣ and ΒΑΤΤΟΣ to this series. On the specimens naming ΑΝΤΙΠΑΤΡΟΣ, ΙΣΤΙΚΑΣ, and ΦΙΛΟΚΛΗΣ the lettering runs vertically downwards to the right of the lion (Ashton and Kinns, 2003: 6). These coins were probably the functional replacement for the first lion/sun bronzes of Miletus.

• Series III: 18–20 mm and 8.0 g (D-L #336–340) featuring the names ΕΠΙΣΘΕΝΗΣ, ΝΙΚΕΑΣ, […]Ν[…]ΕΥ[…], and [Ο]ΡΝΥΜΕΝ[ΟΣ]. Kinns (1986: 241) adds ΕΥΚΤΗΜΩΝ. “Few examples of this heavy large denomination survive, but they are stylistically uniform, and three of the four known complete names also appear in series I or II. The Apollo/lion bronzes were therefore in at least three denominations at the very beginning, although the largest was soon dropped” (Kinns, 1986: 251).

• Series IV: 18 mm and 3.5–4.5 g (D-L #341–398) featuring the names ΕΠΙΝΙΚΟΣ, ΑΝΤΙΑΝΔΡΟΣ, ΜΟΛΟΣΣΟΣ, ΜΟΡΙΑΣ, ΠΑΡΡΑ[…], [Δ]ΙΟΜΙΛ[ΟΣ], ΘΕΥΚΡΙΤ[…], ΒΑΤΤΑΡΟΣ, ΛΥΚΟΣ, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΔΗΣ (corrected from ΒΑΣΙΛΕΔΗΣ; Kinns, 1986: 237), ΠΡΩΤΑΡΧΟΣ, ΦΑΙΔΜΟΣ, ΧΑΡΜΗΣ, ΕΧΕΒΟΥΛΟΣ, ΜΝΗΣΙΘΕΟΣ, ΛΑΜΠΡΟΜΑΧΟΣ, and [Λ]ΕΟΝΤΕ[ΥΣ]. Kinns (1986 241) further corrects ΜΟΛΟΣΣΟΣ to ΜΟΛΟϹϹΟϹ (with lunate sigmas), adds the names ΑΝΤΙΑΝΩΡ (“the reading ‘ΑΝΤΙΑΝΔΡΟΣ’ is doubtful for some specimens”), ΑΡΙΣΤΑΓΟΡΑ, ΔΑΜΑΣΙΑΣ, ΘΕΑΝΔΡΟΣ (D-L’s #829a, misread as ΘΕΟΔΩΡΟΣ and misplaced in her Period VI), ΤΙΜΟΘΕΟΣ, [ΦΑ]ΝΟΔΙΚΟϹ, and ΦΙΛΙΣΚΟΣ (possibly a D-L Period V specimen) to this series, and notes that “an exergue line is present on the issues of ΔΑΜΑΣΙΑΣ, ΘΕΑΝΔΡΟΣ, ΤΙΜΟΘΕΟΣ, and ΦΙΛΙΣΚΟΣ.”

  Within these Series IV bronzes, Kinns distinguishes a number of early and late varieties. Four varieties are clearly early, with a possible “starting date in the third quarter of the fourth century. Those of ΠΑΡΡΑϹΙΟϹ (D-L 368–9) and ΘΕΥΚΡΙΤΟΣ (D-L 373–4) show a name which is partly vertical at right, somewhat reminiscent of series I and II, while the issues of ΕΠΙΝΙΚΟΣ (D-L 341) and *ΦΑΝΟΔΙΚΟϹ…may be contemporary with the [silver Series IV] drachms bearing the same names…, both dated to the 320s. Particularly interesting is the occurrence of lunate sigmas on the bronzes of ΠΑΡΡΑϹΙΟϹ, ΦΑΝΟΔΙΚΟϹ, and ΜΟΛΟϹϹΟϹ (D-L 355–65)—a feature not noticed by D-L, but also in fact found on silver [Series I] hemidrachms of ΧΑΡΙΛΑϹ (D-L 46–9)” (Kinns, 1986: 251).

  The late issues within Series IV include (among others) the specimens that have an exergue line. These coins “must be exactly contemporary with the reduced [Rhodian] weight didrachms of D-L’s Period III [that were issued about 310 BC during a gap in the production of Milesian Alexanders, rather than with the full-weight Rhodian silver of Period I, above], for no fewer than 10 of the 14 recorded magistrates also appear among the 30 names of that silver series; stylistic details, notably Apollo’s elaborate hair-styling and broad laurel wreath, the exergue line, and the occasional use of a sixteen-rayed star all confirm this relationship (D-L, p. 59), and a remarkable case of parallel die sharing in the two metals can now be reported. In the [late group of Series IV] bronze a single obverse links coins of ΛΥΚΟΣ (D-L 379), ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΔΗΣ (D-L 380), and ΠΡΩΤΑΡΧΟΣ (Kinns; cf. D-L 381), and the same trio are also linked in [the Period III reduced-Rhodian didrachms in] silver (D-L 446–8, all from V6)” (Kinns, 1986: 251).

• Series V: 10–12 mm and 1.0–1.1 g (D-L #399–435) featuring the names ΛΑΜΠΡΟΜΑΧΟΣ, ΑΡΙΣΤΑΓΟΡΑΣ, ΑΝΤΙΑΝΔΡΟΣ, ΜΟΛΟΣΣΟΣ, ΧΑΡΟ[…], ΛΕΟΝΤΙΣΚΟΣ, ΑΝ[ΔΡΙΟΣ], ΧΑΡΜΗΣ, ΔΗΜΟΣΘΕΝΗΣ, ΔΗΜΗΤ[ΡΙΟΣ], and ΕΠΙΝΙΚΟΣ. Kinns (1986: 241) adds the name ΠΥΡΑΜΕΝ to this series, and notes:

  The series V bronzes probably cover the same general period as series IV, since six of the twelve names are shared with the larger denomination, including ΕΠΙΝΙΚΟΣ and ΜΟΛΟΣΣΟΣ. ΧΑΡΟ (D-L 407), meanwhile, could be identical to ΧΑΡΟΠΙΝΟΣ, the magistrate of the earliest Apollo/lion silver and bronze, which would mean that series V began about the same time as series I–III, making for an original four denominations. But D-L’s study of the bronze is insufficiently careful and detailed to allow further speculation along these lines. [Kinns, 1986: 251–252]

But it may be that at least one further speculation concerning the Series V specimens should be permitted: the single ΧΑΡΟ specimen in this series (D-L #407, pl. 13) in fact has a sun/star of six points rather than eight, strongly suggesting that ΧΑΡΟ is indeed ΧΑΡΟΠΙΝΟΣ, “the magistrate of the earliest Apollo/lion silver and bronze,” and that the bronze of Series V is contemporaneous with the bronze of Series I–III, as well as with the earliest Rhodian-standard silver issues, as Kinns conjectured.

The headings used below summarize current understanding of all the fourth-century bronze Apollo/lion issues, as detailed above.

(3a) Series I: AE 15–16 mm (3.2–3.5 g) · About 353–323 BC

Specimens are recorded that name ΕΠΙΣΘΕΝΗΣ, ΔΙΟΝΥΣΙΟΣ, ΧΑΡΟΠΙΝΟΣ, ΛΥΚΟΜΗΔΗΣ, ΣΦΟΔΡΙΣ, ΒΙΟΝ, ΑΝΤΙΠΑΤΡΟΣ, ΕΓΔΙΚΟΣ, [ΕΡ]ΓΙΝΟΣ, [ΛΑ]ΜΠΙΤΟΣ, ΖΕΥΞΙΛΕΩ[Σ], ΛΕΥΚΙΠΠΟΣ, ΝΙΚΟΛΟΧΟΣ, ΞΕΝΟΚΡΙΤΟΣ, and [Π]ΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ[ΙΟΣ]. One example is included in this collection.

(3b) Series II: AE 13 mm (2.0 g) · About 353–323 BC

Specimens are recorded that name ΑΝΤΙΠΑΤΡΟΣ, ΙΣΤΙΚΑΣ (or ΙΣΤΙΚΩΝ), ΟΡΝΥΜΕΝΟΣ, ΦΙΛΟΚΛΗΣ, ΕΥΚΤΗΜ[…], ΑΝΤΙΑ[…], [Π]ΟΔΙΟ[Σ], ΛΑΜΠΡΟΜΑΧΟΣ, ΜΟΛΠΑΓΟΡΑΣ, ΑΡΧΕΜΑΧΟΣ, and ΒΑΤΤΟΣ. No examples are included in this collection.

(3c) Series III: AE 18–20 mm (8.0 g) · About 353–323 BC

Specimens are recorded that name ΕΠΙΣΘΕΝΗΣ, ΝΙΚΕΑΣ, […]Ν[…]ΕΥ[…], [Ο]ΡΝΥΜΕΝ[ΟΣ], and ΕΥΚΤΗΜΩΝ. No examples are included in this collection.

(3d) Series IV: AE 18 mm (3.5–4.5 g) · About 353–323 BC [Late group, about 310 BC]

Specimens are recorded that name ΕΠΙΝΙΚΟΣ, ΑΝΤΙΑΝΔΡΟΣ, ΜΟΛΟϹϹΟϹ, ΜΟΡΙΑΣ, ΠΑΡΡΑ[ϹΙΟϹ], [Δ]ΙΟΜΙΛ[ΟΣ], ΘΕΥΚΡΙΤ[ΟΣ], ΒΑΤΤΑΡΟΣ, ΛΥΚΟΣ, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΔΗΣ, ΠΡΩΤΑΡΧΟΣ, ΦΑΙΔΜΟΣ, ΧΑΡΜΗΣ, ΕΧΕΒΟΥΛΟΣ, ΜΝΗΣΙΘΕΟΣ, ΛΑΜΠΡΟΜΑΧΟΣ, [Λ]ΕΟΝΤΕ[ΥΣ], ΑΝΤΙΑΝΩΡ (or perhaps ΑΝΤΙΑΝΔΡΟΣ as above), ΑΡΙΣΤΑΓΟΡΑ, ΔΑΜΑΣΙΑΣ, ΘΕΑΝΔΡΟΣ, ΤΙΜΟΘΕΟΣ, [ΦΑ]ΝΟΔΙΚΟϹ, and ΦΙΛΙΣΚΟΣ. As noted above, Kinns recognizes within Series IV an early group that was minted in parallel with the Rhodian-weight silver above, as well as a late group which he believes was minted about 310 BC in parallel with the reduced-Rhodian silver didrachms of Miletus. This late group is distinguished by the presence of an exergue line, as seen on the reverses of ΛΥΚΟΣ, ΔΑΜΑΣΙΑΣ, ΘΕΑΝΔΡΟΣ, ΤΙΜΟΘΕΟΣ, and ΦΙΛΙΣΚΟΣ. One example of the early Series IV group is included in this collection, and two examples of the late Series IV group are described alongside the reduced-Rhodian didrachms on a separate page, following Kinns’ chronology.

(3e) Series V: AE 10–12 mm (1.0–1.1 g) · About 353–323 BC

Specimens are recorded that name ΛΑΜΠΡΟΜΑΧΟΣ, ΑΡΙΣΤΑΓΟΡΑΣ, ΑΝΤΙΑΝΔΡΟΣ, ΜΟΛΟΣΣΟΣ, ΧΑΡΟ[ΠΙΝΟΣ], ΛΕΟΝΤΙΣΚΟΣ, ΑΝ[ΔΡΙΟΣ], ΧΑΡΜΗΣ, ΔΗΜΟΣΘΕΝΗΣ, ΔΗΜΗΤ[ΡΙΟΣ], ΕΠΙΝΙΚΟΣ, and ΠΥΡΑΜΕΝ, with the ΧΑΡΟ[ΠΙΝΟΣ] specimens being the earliest from the entire period. One Series V example is included in this collection.