Numismata hellenica: a catalogue of Greek coins; with notes, a map ...

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Metal
M
¥ M
M
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Size
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KINGS AND DYNASTS OF EUROPE.
KINGS OF MACEDONIA.
Weight
ALEXANDRUS I.
in grains
Troy.
Son of Amyntas I., began to reign about 500 b.c.
442 A figure (Alexandras I. !) naked, with the exception of a short chlamys on his
shoulders, and a hat or helmet bound with a diadem ; bearing two spears and
448
408
62-4
28-3
15-9
192-8
153-3
standing to r., on the sinister side of a bridled horse which steps to r. ; all
within a dotted circle. B. AAESANAPO on the slightly sunken border of a
square, divided into four equal parts. — Electrotype from a coin in the British
Museum.
Note.—The Kavala liatrmarriipopot and the xXo/iAf were a part of the ordinary dress of Alexander
the Great and his successors (Plutai'ch, Antun. 54. Athen. 12, 9).
Another similar.— Electrotype from the Hunter Collection.
Note.—A deep cut on the left side of this coin, extending from near the centre of the obverse to
its edge, is probably a Persian countermark, made at the time of the invasion of Xerxes. The
proofs of this conjecture will appear on coins of Cilicia, of Athens, the Bisaltoe, and others.
Horseman to r., bearing two ; spears below the horse, a frog or toad. R. as before.
— Electrotype from the Hunter Collection.
Note.—This also has the Persian countermark, but along the margin ; in striking it, a piece
has been broken off ; hence the lighter weight. These three coins serve to illustrate the statement
of Herodotus (5, 17), who says that Alexander I. received from his mines a talent of si\ver per diem.
Extensive vestiges of the working of these mines are still to be seen in the Chalcidic peninsula on
the mountain of Nizvoro.— Vide Travels in N. Greece, iii. p. 164.
Same types and legend as on M, 9.— Electrotype.
Horse walking to r., in linear circle. R. Macedonian indented square as before.
—Conf. Mionnet, Sup. iii. p. 177, No. 17.
Another, but horse standing to r. in a dotted circle.
Alexander I. was succeeded by his son Perdiccas II., whose reign
began about 454 b.c. Be was succeeded by his son
ARCHELAUS,
who began to reign 413 b.c.
Horseman to r. wearing chlamys and causia, in left hand two spears, horse walking ;
all in linear circle. R. Fore-half of a goat couchaut to r., head turned to L, in
linear square.
Another similar; within the square, APXE(A)AO. — Electrotype from the B. M.
Note.—The half-goat with reverted head in the act of lying down, alludes to the mythus of
Caranus, founder of the Macedonian kingdom, who, in conformity with an oracle, fixed his seat of
government at Edessa upon being conducted to it by a flock of goats. We may suppose the leader
of the flock to be lying down and looking back to the king, as a sign that he' was there to fix his
abode. In honour of the goats, the name of Edessa was changed to Mgua, and here, doubtless, the
money of all the earlier kings of Macedonia was struck. .lEgae continued also to be the place of royal
sepulture, even after the removal of the seat of government to Pella by Philip II.— Diodor. 18, et
Excerpt. 267 ; Pausan. Attic. 6 ; Athen. 4, 41.