THE COIN COLLECTOR - World eBook Library

GREEK COINS
and Histiaea. Of Chalcis the first money consisted of
staters in electrum and the tetradrachm and its divi-
sions in silver. That of Eretria is remarkahle for the
type of the Gorgon's head and the irregularity of the
module ; but subsequently to the wars with Persia the
fabric and type underwent a change. From 336 to
197 k.c. there was no autonomous currency, but it
revived after the liberation of Greece by Flamininus.
The Histiaean money carries on it the recollection of
the fertility of the vines of the district. The coinage
of Eubcea may be divided into four periods : first auto-
nomous period (including archaic pieces); Macedonian
period ; second autonomous period ; Roman imperial
period—the whole extending over about five centuries
(b.c. 700-146).
Attica.—The most ancient money current in Attica
is thought to have been that of vEgina, and this heavy
coinage was probably superseded in the time of Solon
by one of lighter weight, afterward known as the Attic
or Euboic standard, and bearing the proportion of 73
to 100. But the Athenians seem to have had a com-
mercial as well as a current standard, and the former,
when the Euboic weight was introduced, was still
maintained for trading purposes, the mina being money
of account and = 138 drachmas. The types of the
coinage varied little, but the fabric and style, from
being extremely barbarous and primitive, grew more
refined and artistic. The denominations were unusually
numerous after the earliest period, and comprised all
varieties of size and value in silver and bronze, from
75