THE COIN COLLECTOR - World eBook Library

GREEK COINS
allusively to the name of the place, as well as, perhaps,
the worship of the Delphian Apollo. Between b.c. 357
and 346 money of a different character was struck as
the result of the war concluded in the last-named year
and the silver staters, drachms, and diobols may be
referred to the year (346) of the meeting of the Syne-
drion and the Pythian games, the reverses bearing
Ampluctyonon. From this date to the reign of the
Emperor Hadrian the coinage of Delphi was suspended,
but it was restored under that prince and the Anto-
nines. It is interesting to recollect that Plutarch the
historian was a member of the Amphictyonic council
and priest of the temple of Apollo at Chaeroneia.
Archaic coins are known of other towns of Phocis
Lilaea and Neon. The figure on one of Elateia of the
second century b.c. is identified with the bronze statue
of Athena mentioned by Pausanias.
Bceotia.—Like Phocis, this State at a very early
period of its numismatic history resorted to federalism.
The most ancient examples of currency, however, are to
be found among the series struck at Thebes in the sixth
century b.c. on an JEginetie model, with the type of the
Boeotian shield, a religious emblem connected with the
dedication of golden ones, probably to Athena, in the
Acropolis at Coroneia, the place of assembly for the
Boeotian League. The Theban coinage, at first primi-
tive in fabric and style and uninscribed, acquired an
artistic character in the succeeding century, when the
rude incuse reverses were superseded by a more elegant
and attractive pattern, and to this era the rare gold
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