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

18
Metal 1
JR
M
M
M M
Size Weight
l2
'4
:U
3+
4-
1 +
213-4
225-1
218-6
241-1
.52-0
21-2
KINGS OF EPIRUS.
ALEXANDRUS II. (o/Epirus),
Succeeded his father Pyrrhus b.c. 272.
Youthful head to r, covered with the skin of an elephant's head ; a horn and a
diadem are visible in front of the forehead. R. AAESANAPo[Y]. Pallas
draped and armed as usual, stepping to r. and hurling a spear ;
to r. standing on a fulnien ; in field /. men. 97 ; in field r. mon. 98.
in front is an eagle
Note.—The letters of the legend are dotted at the extremities, as on many of the coins of the
Seleucidie of the same age.
Same type.
Another, ill preserved.
R. Same legend, type, and monograms.
Same type. R. Same legend and type, but in field r. mons. 99, 100. Electrotype
from the B. M.
Same types and legend ; but in field to the r. of Pallas, mon. 32.
Same type.
B. Same legend, type, and monogram.
Note.—The attribution of these coins to Alexander II., of Epirus, is founded upon the reverse, the
type of which, being similar to that of a great majority of the coins of the Thessalian community, seems
evidently intended for a figure of Minerva Itonia, the principal deity of Thessaly, whose temple stood
on the road from Larissa to Pherse. The same reverse is found on some of the coins of Pyrrhus, father
of Alexander II., who appears to have adopted it after the victory which he gained in b.c. 274 over
Antigonus Gonatas at a pass in Upper Macedonia (Plutarch, Pyrr. 20), and which gave him possession
"f Macedonia and all Thessaly. In the temple of Minerva Itonia Pyrrhus dedicated the shields
of the Gallic mercenaries of Antigonus, who were slain or taken on that occasion, and at Dodona those
of the Macedonians. Plutarch has preserved one, and Pausanias (Attic, c. 13) both of the epigrams
which were attached to these dedications. It was natural that Alexander II. should cherish the me-
mory of this event, especially as to the same auspicious protection of Pallas Itonia he ascribed probably
his own victory over Antigonus at Derdia in Elimeia (Euseb.i. p. 340, Armen.), by which he also became
for a short time master of Thessaly and Macedonia. We may say that the occurrence of this type on
the reverses of the coins of Demetrius I. (Eckhel ii. p. 119) and Pyrrhus, as well as on those of Antigonus
and Alexander II., agrees perfectly with the alternate possession of Thessaly by these kings of Mace-
donia and Epirus. The obverse of these tetradrachma is evidently an imitation of that common type
of the successors of Alexander the Great, his head in the chiiracter of Hercules ; it may have been
recommended to Alexander II. of Epirus, merely because he bore the same name as his great jirededecessor
of Macedonia, and possibly because, of all the successors of Alexander, Pyrrhus was acknow-
ledged to bear the greatest resemblance to him (o^iv ^ovto Kal ra-^OQ loiKtvai Kai Kivrjfia ro7f
'
AXt^dvdpov Kai Ttjg ^opag iKiii'ov Kai jStaf napd. Toiig dywvag Iv Tovrtp OKiaQ TivaQ oudaOai Kai
miiilliaTa. Plutarch, Pyrr. c. 8). The substitution of the elephant's scalp for that of the Nemean
lion was well suited to Alexander the Great, as conqueror of India, but there seems little reason for
its being adopted by a king of Epirus, unless perhaps with some allusion to the numerous elephants
captured by Pyrrhus in his victory over Antigonus Gonatas. In like manner, although it is not necessary
to consider the eagle on the reverse in any other light than as a symbol of Jupiter, who was
generally a avvvabg OtoQ in temples of Minerva, it is not impossible that this symbol may also have a
reference to Pyrrhus, whom Plutarch tells us that the Epirotes saluted with the title of Eagle, when
he returned home after his victory over Pantauchus, the general of Demetrius ; and when he replied
to the Epirotes, " If I am an eagle, you are my wings." ... 'Aerof vvb tUv 'HTriipuirwv irpoaayopivofifvoc-
Ai vfide IXtyiv dtrof lifiC iriuQ ydp ov/ieXXoj roif i/ierspotf 'oitXoiQ, liainp iiKuvripoiQ, lirai-
pd/icvof ; (c. 10.)
flead of young Hercules, covered with the lion's
scalp, to r. R. AAESANAPOY.
Eagle standing on a fulmen to r., looking to I. ; in field above, crescent.
Same types and legend, but above the eagle an ivy-leaf.
Another.
Head of Alexander the Great to r., with long hair, diadem, and cornu Ammonia.
R ANA . . Eagle with open wings on fulmen to L ; in field ?
Same types ; but in
place of the name, mon. 101 (aaE).
I