THE COIN COLLECTOR - World eBook Library

THE COLLECTOR SERIES
Curator or Hepimclctes—A term found on certain
coins of Lydia and Caria. The Romans had Curatores
of the public games, to whom the inscription of the
name on coins would most probably refer.
Dark—A gold and silver denomination of Persia,
both of thick amorphous fabric, and alike representing
a kneeling archer or half-length figure, with bow, spear,
or dagger in hand to right. There is no legend, and the
reverse is incuse in both cases. Of the gold there is
the double. There are several varieties. The gold
daric is supposed to have been first struck about the
middle of the sixth century b.c, the double in the
fourth century about 331 b.c, perhaps by Alexander
the Great after the battle of Arbela. It seems to be
generally agreed that large numbers were melted down
by Philip of Macedon to furnish the bullion for his own
staters. The word is taken to be independent of the
name of Darius, having been known in Persia before
his time as a measure of value, if not as a coin.
Dates on coins—The insertion of a chronological
mark or word on coins was a practice known to the
ancients, but carried out by them on their money in
a different method from that pursued by the more
modern sovereigns of Europe. It may be said that in
principle the notation of date is referable back to the
coinage of Hellas; and the Romans still more fre-
quently indicated the year of issue by identifying it
with the consulship or other regnal term. In the later
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