The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal Numismatic Society

CHKONOLOGY OF THE COINS OF CHIOS. 43
vessel in place of an amphora is enough to have raised
doubts as to this among some authorities. The absence
of handles, in my opinion, is most likely due to careless
engraving or a damaged die, as the Paris specimen,
while certainly belonging to the same issue, though
from a different obverse die, shows a similarly shaped
vessel with handles.
This type also seems rare, and has never been
published.
No. 17 is probably the most familiar of these sixth-
century types. Apart from the doubtful case presented
by No. 1 4, it may be said to record the earliest appearance
of the real amphora on coins of Chios. The
specimen
from Athens also seems to furnish us with
the first instance of the letters Xlo in the depression
of the incuse square. The undoubted occurrence of
these letters on later issues will be found referred to
below. Although a transient feature of the coinage,
it is a fact that has not hitherto been established.
No. 18 seems to be modelled upon No. 14, although
clearly of slightly later date. It is interesting as being
the first issue to show the raised circular shield, as
a background for the type, which later became an
unfailing feature of the island's money. This convex
field may not have been intentional at first, although
it certainly became so afterwards, but its appearance
here is an instance of the fact that what are so often
taken for innovations in coins are frequently only
r. revivals.
Another well-known instance of this is the crescent
n the reverse of Athenian tetradrachms, supposed at
none
time to have been first used on coins of the third
period according to the British Museum Catalogue (see