The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal Numismatic Society

BCEOTIA. PERIOD III. CIRC. B.C. 480 457. 199
from Eretria than from Chalcis, is the Gorgon-head on
the following rare obol :
Obol. Gorgon-head. Fore-part of horse springing r., in
10'8 grs.
incuse square.
[Brit. Mus.]
As, however, the weight of this piece does not exceed
that of the Euboic obols, it may be attributed with equal
probability to Euboea, and to a somewhat later date (circ.
B.C. 456 445), in which case the reverse type might be
borrowed from the coins of Tanagra of the next period.
There can. be little doubt that the wheel both on the coins
of Chalcis and Tanagra is symbolical of the cultus of
Apollo, as a sun-god, and that the Gorgon-head symbo-
lizes moon-worship.
THEBES B.C. 480 457. The coinage of Thebes which I
would assign to the time of her humiliation, compared
with that of Tanagra, is far from plentiful. Here also, as
at Tanagra, the mill-sail incuse of the period before the
Persian wars gives place to an artistic though simple
reverse type, in this case the amphora, symbolical of the
worship of Dionysus, in the same way as the wheel on the
coins of Tanagra indicates that of Apollo.
Stater.
182-2 grs.
Drachm.
94 grs.
Obol.
15-5.
Boeotian shield. Amphora in incuse square.
[Brit. Mus. PI. I. 18.]
Same. Same.
[Brit. Mus. PI. I. 19.]
Same. Same.
[Brit. Mus. PI. I. 20.]
ORCHOMENUS. The following small coins of Orcho-
menus clearly belong to the same period as the foregoing.