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The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal Numismatic Society

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84 E. S. G. ROBIXSOX.<br />

What was <strong>the</strong> date <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> final victory <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Samian<br />

st<strong>and</strong>ard which marks <strong>the</strong> beginning <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> third period?<br />

It is generally supposed 65 that <strong>the</strong> change took place as<br />

a result <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> expulsion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Battiads, which (as we<br />

have seen above) can be dated with some certainty<br />

to <strong>the</strong> years 455-445 ; but if our explanation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Barce-Cyrene alliance coin is correct, <strong>the</strong> Attic st<strong>and</strong>ard<br />

must still have been in use in <strong>the</strong> Cyrenaica after <strong>the</strong><br />

revolution, a conclusion which is supported by <strong>the</strong><br />

developed style <strong>of</strong> Nos. 29 <strong>and</strong> 30. <strong>The</strong> principal mint<br />

from which tetradrachms <strong>of</strong> Samian weight had hi<strong>the</strong>rto<br />

been issued was Samos. Now in 439 that isl<strong>and</strong><br />

revolted, <strong>and</strong> after a protracted siege was reduced by<br />

<strong>the</strong> A<strong>the</strong>nians. Though it has been generally assumed<br />

that <strong>the</strong> mint began to work again immediately after<br />

<strong>the</strong> capitulation, such a concession would seem to be at<br />

variance with <strong>the</strong> general practice <strong>of</strong> A<strong>the</strong>ns in <strong>the</strong><br />

matter <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rights <strong>of</strong> coinage, about which she was<br />

particularly jealous towards her subject allies. Fur<strong>the</strong>r,<br />

<strong>the</strong> obvious change in style between <strong>the</strong> pieces <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

earlier period (B. M.

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