THE COIN COLLECTOR - World eBook Library

GREEK COINS
to this period is referable a curious tetradrachm of good
Greek workmanship on obverse, but with a roughly-
executed archaic reverse, representing the Apollo of
Amycle, helmeted and armed, with a goat at his side
this coin may belong to Areus, king of Sparta, b.c.
310-266. The bronze money of Lacedaemon is plen-
tiful, and extends over the whole period. The Spartans
joined the Achaean League in 192 b.c.
The coins of Argos, which cover the period from the
sixth to the second century, are in the best time
(fourth century) remarkable for their beauty of execu-
tion and their mythological eloquence. The stephanos
on the head of Hera is taken to be a recollection of the
head-dress on her statue by Polycleitus. Besides Argos
itself, there were other coin-centres, particularly Cleonae,
Epidaurus, and Tiryns, the last associated with the
modern discoveries of Schliemann, and Epidaurus made
interesting by the identification of its coinage with the
statue by Thrasymedes of Paros of Asklepios, who was
worshipped here. Of Tiryns there are coins of the
fourth century, which refute the ordinary statement
that it was not inhabited after its destruction in b.c.
468. The Roman currency of Argolis retains its
Hellenic character.
Of Arcadia we possess a federal coinage from the
middle of the sixth to the latter part of the following-
century. The seats of mintage were probably more or
less numerous. As elsewhere, some of the archaic money
was doubtless struck within the sanctuary of Zeus on
Mount Lvcseum on the occasion of the annual games
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