Συμβολή στη μελέτη της χάλκινης νομισματοκοπίας των Αντιγονιδών από τον Αντίγονο Γονατά έως τους πρώτους χρόνους του Φίλιππου Ε' : η περίπτωση πέντε "θησαυρών" από την Ανατολική Μακεδονία
Part of : Αρχαιολογικόν δελτίον ; Vol.56, 2001, pages 237-296
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Pages:
237-296
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Contribution to the study of the bronze coinage of the Antigonids, from Gonatas to the early years of Philip V
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This article is devoted to the study of five hoards containing bronze coins from east Macedonia. A shared feature of all five hoards is that the majority of the coins are issues of Antigonos Gonatas (277/6-240/39 BC), and in two cases they are stamped with a circular countermark on the obverse.From the study of the five hoards, and also taking into account the bronze coins of Antigonos Gonatas and Philip V found in other hoards, catalogues of collections and other publications, I have reached the following conclusions regarding the bronze coinage of the Antigonids from Gonatas to the early years of Philip V.Each of the three types of bronze coin issued by Gonatas may be divided into specific series, and some of these may be subdivided into groups.Macedonian shield/Macedonian helmetIn this type, there are two series, distinguished by the representation and the inscription on the reverse. Series I: BA - ΣΙ 1. and r. of a Macedonian helmet with a double crest. In th e field, 1., r. and below, symbols and monograms.Series II: B - A1. and r. of a Macedonian helmet with two vertical bird’s wings. Beneath the helmet, symbol or nothing.Herakles/HorsemanIn this type there are four series, distinguished by the inscription and the position of the symbol, and the presence of a single letter or a monogram on the reverse.Series I: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ at the top, ΑΝΤΙΓΟΝΟΥ at the bottom, in a semicircle. Beneath the horse’s belly, symbol.Series II: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ in a semicircle at the top, # beneath the horse’s belly or in the field r. Nothing, letter or monogram between the horse’s forelegs, or symbol beneath its belly, depending on its position ^ . Series III: B - A1. and r. of the horseman’s head, ^ beneath the horse’s belly. In the field r. nothing, symbol, letter, monogram, monogram and letter, or in the field r. monogram and, between the horse’s forelegs, an uncertain monogram or letter.Series IV: B - A1. of the horseman’s he ad and in the field r., ^ or Al beneath the horse’s belly, or BA 1. of the horseman’s head, ^ beneath the horse’s belly (one known coin). Between the horse’s forelegs nothing, symbol, letter, monogram, or symbol in the same position and behind the horseman’s back.Athena/Pan erecting trophyThis type is divided into three series, according to the size and weight of the coins (different denominations) and the winged Macedonian helmet, which is found on the reverse of all the coins in the third series.Series I: HemiobolB - A I. of Pan’s head and in the field r., or 1. and r. of Pan’s head, ^ or A between his legs. Pan stands with his legs straight and apart in the shape of the Greek A, or moves with a wide or slight stride. In the field 1. symbol, monogram, letter or letters, the latter also found in the field 1. and below.Series II: TetartemorionB - A1. of Pan’s head and in the field r„ ^ , A or If between his legs, or B - A below, 1. of Pan’s legs and r. of the tro phy, $ 1. of Pan’s head (one known coin). Pan usually stands with his legs wide apart in the shape of the Greek A, or moves with a slight stride, in some cases crowning the trophy. In the field 1. and r. nothing, symbol, letter or letters, monogram.Series III: HemiobolB - A1. of Pan’s head and in the field r., or BA 1. of Pan’s head (two known coins), ^ between Pan’s legs. Pan moves with a wide or slight stride. In the field 1. Macedonian helmet with two vertical bird’s wings. Additionally, in the field 1. and r. nothing, monogram, letter or letters, symbol.The above nine series were struck with two denominations: the hemiobol (or tetrachalkon, A, AE AE2) and the tetartemorion (or dichalkon, B, 1/2AE, AE3), while the chalkous is absent (C, 1/4AE, AE4). Specifically, the coins in the Athena/Pan I and III series are hemiobols and those of the other series tetartemoria.The minting of the nine series may be assigned to six periods, which are related to important historical eve nts.First period: 277-273/2 BC. From Gonatas’s victory at the battle of Lysimacheia to the invasion and capture of the greater part of Macedonia by Pyrrhos. Only the two series of the Shield/Helmet type were struck with a denomination of one tetartemorion (average weight 3.95 gr.). Series I was struck throughout the greater part of this period, and the very rare, limited Series II in the last year of it (273/2 BC), probably only at Amphipolis.Second period: 272/1-268/7 BC. From the recapture of the whole of Macedonia to the beginning of the Chremonidean War. The new type of Herakles/Horseman was introduced, and Series I and II were struck from 272/1-270/69 BC, while the issuing of the large Series III began in 269/8 BC. This type, too, was only issued in the denomination of one tetartemorion, though with an increased average weight (4.51 gr. for the first two series and 4.55 gr. for the third).Third period: 267/6-262/1 BC. This period is identified with the duration of the Chremon idean War. In the bronze coinage, the issuing of the Herakles/Horseman III Series continued, with an increased output. Owing to the increased needs of the war, however, a new hemiobol was also issued in parallel for the first time in the name of Antigonos Gonatas, in the Athena/Pan I Series, average weight 6.58 gr. Until this time, the type of heavy bronze coin in use was the Herakles/Horseman of Cassander, which continued to circulate, with the Gonatas’s hemiobol, until the following period. The parallel striking of the two series Herakles/Horseman III and Athena/Pan I was probably carried out at two different mints, specifically at Pella and Amphipolis respectively.Fourth period: 261/0-255/4 BC. From the capture of Athens to the naval battle of Kos. The hemiobol ceased to be issued during this period, and the issuing of tetartemorion was resumed. However, the striking of tetartemorion in the type Herakles/Horseman ceased and the type was replaced by the Athena/Pan II series, ave rage weight 3.85 gr.Fifth period: 254/3-246/5 BC. From the naval battle of Kos to the naval battle of Andros and the recapture of Corinth. The minting of only one bronze denomination continued, but the tetartemorion of the series Athena/Pan II was replaced by the hemiobol of the larger (in terms of its duration and output) series III of the same type, though with a reduced average weight (5.35 gr.). This is the reason, in my view, that all the new hemiobols have the winged Macedonian helmet in the field, below 1. This symbol serves as a sign distinguishing the series from the hemiobols of the earlier series I, which are of the same denomination but heavier. I consider it likely that it is the mark of a mint, probably that of Amphipolis, rather than a minter.Sixth period: 245/4-239 BC. From the naval battle of Andros to the death of Antigonos. The output of bronze coinage continued with the hemiobol of the Athena/Pan III Series, but a tetartemorion was also minted in parallel, probab ly at Pella, with the resumption of the Herakles/Horseman type series IV, with an average weight of 4.23 gr.Demetrios II and Antigonos Doson (239-221 BC) did not issue their own bronze coins and in order to give validity to the existing coins they countermarked them on the obverse. In my opinion, it is to this measure on the part of Gonatas’s successors that is owed the large number of countermarked bronze coins of Gonatas in the types Herakles/Horseman and Athena/Pan. The large number of such coins is exceptional for the royal bronze coinage of Macedonia. There are, however, countermarks that are attributed to issuing authorities outside Macedonia. These issuing authorities probably followed the example of Gonatas’s successors and countermarked his bronze coins, either because they were unable to mint new coins or in order to increase the quantity of the bronze coins already in circulation.Philip V initially (221 BC) countermarked the reverse of coins of Gonatas with the monogr am ft! and Φ with a torch (Athena/Pan and Herakles/Horseman series, respectively). After this (220 BC) he issued two short series of his own of the Athena/Pan type with B - A and ft! or Φ and with the Macedonian helmet as symbol, which points to the mint at Amphipolis. From about 219 BC onwards he at first issued a series in a previous type (Herakles/Horseman), though longer-lived and larger in volume than the previous two shortlived limited-circulation issues, and about 217 BC he instituted his bronze coinage with its new, rich iconography
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Περιέχει εικόνες, πίνακες, συμπεράσματα και παράρτημα, Το άρθρο περιέχεται στο τεύχος: Μέρος Α'-Μελέτες
