Ancient Coins of Crete

457

[Svoronos, Numismatique de la Crete ancienne, 1890. Wroth, Cretan Coins in Num. Chron.1884, pp. 1-58. Wroth, Brit. Mus. Cat., Crete, &c., 1886.]

The oldest coins of Crete, so far as they have been identified, cannot be assigned to an earlierperiod than circ. B.C. 500 (cf., however, A. Evans on Minoan weights and currency in CorollaNum., p. 336 f.), while the most important period of coinage is from circ. B.C. 400 to 300. Theautonomous issues cease about B.C. 67 with the conquest of Crete by Q. Caecilius Metellus.Imperial coins were struck at some of the principal cities of the island, and there was also anissue of money for the Province of Crete generally.

The usual standard is the Aeginetic, the chief denominations being the stater or didrachm anddrachm. After the age of Alexander the Attic standard gradually replaces the Aeginetic. It isprobable that Alexan- drine coins circulated in Crete, though only a few of the mint-symbolshave been satisfactorily made out. About B.C. 200 many of the cities (see under Cnossus)struck imitations of the Athenian tetradrachm with their own names and symbols.

The Cretan cities furnish many remarkable examples of fine coin- engraving, notably Cnossus,Cydonia, Gortyna, Phaestus, and Sybrita, and two engravers, Neuantos and Pythodoros, recordtheir signatures on the money of Cydonia, Aptera, and Polyrhenium. R. S. Poole (N. C., 1864, p.240; cf. Gardner, Types, p. 161) has called attention to the frequent portrayal of animal andvegetable subjects in Cretan coin-art and its fondness for perspective and foreshortening.Everywhere, however, side by side with these fine coins, there exist unskilful copies and even themost barbarous reproductionssee, for example, the various copies of the fine Gortyniandidrachm representing Europa in the tree (B. M. C., Crete, Pl. IX. 5-10). Any large collection ofCretan coins has therefore a somewhat bizarre appearance, and the crudities of style and fabricare emphasized by the common practice of the Cretan mint-masters of employing the coins ofother placesCyrene, Argos, Euboea, &c.as flans on which to restrike their own designs. Suchrestriking, however, often offers to the numismatist a useful clue to the chronologicalarrangement of the coins.

The types are of great interest, especially when they embody such distinctively Cretan myths andpersons as those of Minos, the Minotaur, and the Labyrinth at Cnossus; Europa at Gortyna;Herakles, Velchanos, and Talos at Phaestus; and the local heroes of Aptera and Cydonia. Theprincipal gods represented are Zeus (cf. N. C., 1893, p. 237) and Artemis, the latter often in thelocal forms of Diktynna and Britomartis. Apollo, too, is of frequent occurrence, sometimesapparently in the character of a hunters god, the patron of those who pursued the wild goat ofthe island. Demeter, Hermes, Dionysos, &c., are also found.

Allaria issued drachms (74 grs.) of third or second century B.C. Obv. Head of Athena. Rev. (sometimes retrograde), Herakles standing resting on club.

ANS

Ancient coins of Crete http://www.snible.org/coins/hn/crete.html

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458Anopolis (Anopolis), also called Aradn (Steph. Byz.; Svoronos, p. 5).

After circ. B.C. 250.Young male head (rude style). and palm-branch.

.9, &c.Horn of goat; in field,

palm-branch. ; in field, palm-branch(Hunter Cat., II., p. 168).

.55 No type. i.e. . No type.

.5

Apollonia, near Cnossus (?) (Svoronos, p. 7; Eph. Arch., 1889, p. 195).

Third century B.C.Head of Apollo. Stern of vessel with

aplustre [B. M.]. .5

Id. [] Aplustre and palm-branch. .6

Aptera, on the north coast, near Cydonia.

M'berg SNG B ANS

Circ. B.C. 400-300. (or )

Head of the Artemis of Apterawith ornamented stephane;on some specimens, artistsname .

(sometimes- ) Armed warriorstanding with r. hand raised tosalute a sacred tree

AR Stater.Id. Bow.

AR Dr.Id. Id.

.5

The hero called is perhaps the oekist ( ) Apteros or Pteras (Paus. x. 5.9 and 10; B. M. C., p. xxx). The artist, Pythodoros, also signs coins of Polyrhenium.

Circ. B.C. 250-67.Head of Apollo. Warrior standing

facing [Svor., p. 20, No. 39]AR Stater.

Head of the Artemis of Aptera. Warrior advancing.AR Dr.

Id. Apollo seated; lyre behind.AR Dr.

Head of Zeus. Hermes standingAR Dr.

The bronze coins have on obv. Head of Artemis; rev., Torch; Three torches crossed; Torch and


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arrow-head; Bee; Lyre; Dove; Bearded term; (i. e. Aptera); Warrior standing facing (with obv.Head of Apollo), &c.

Arcadia, an inland town between Cnossus and Gortyna.

Circ. B.C. 300.Head of Zeus Ammon. Athena standing,

armed.AR Drachm.

Id. within wreath. .5-.4

459Circ. B.C. 200.

Head of Zeus. Athena standing,armed; laurel-wreath[Bodleian Libr., Eph. Arch.,1889, Pl. II. 9].

AR Tetradr. 231 grs.

ANS

Arsino, apparently near Lyttus (see Svoronos, p. 29, on Steph. Byz.).

Third century B.C., or later.Head of Athena. Two dolphins.

.6-.4

(On the attribution to the Cretan Arsino see Svoronos in Journ. Int., 1904, p. 397 f.) Cf.Methana (p. 442).

ANS

Axus, to the north of Mount Ida and south-east of Eleutherna.

M'berg WW SNG B ANS

Fourth century B.C.Head of Apollo (usually of rude

style).NIA (i.e. with di-

gamma) Tripod [Svor., p. 36f.], also with I[Ephem. Arch., 1898, p. 265]and without inscr.AR Stater, Drachm, Drachm.

Also with C.Head of Apollo. F Tripod.

AR Didrachm, Drachm, Obol.

Circ. B.C. 300-67.Head of Zeus. C Tripod.

.75 and smaller.Head of Artemis. C Fulmen.

.4


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Head of Zeus. F Tripod; above, fulmen and.

AR DrachmId. C Tripod; above, fulmen.

.5Id. Tripod.

.75Id. Fulmen.

.75 and smaller.

ImperialTiberius to Caligula. Inscr., () () (); rev. Head of the Senate, bearded and veiled, AR 118 grs. (Paris); and , () Heads of Caligula and Germanicus, AR 33 grs. (Hirsch, Auctions-Cat.,xiii. 2912). Cf. Cydonia, p. 464.

Biannos or Biennos (Viano), in the southern part of Crete between Priansus and Hierapytna.

Third century B.C. (?).Female head (Artemis ?) N Rose [B. M.].

.55Id. in dotted circle [Svor., p.

43]. .45

ANS

460Ceraea, near Polyrhenium (Svor., p. 45; cf. N. C., 1902, p. 339).

Third and Second century B.C.Head of Artemis with quiver. Arrow-head and

spear- head within wreath.AR Drachm.

Head of Artemis. Arrow-head and spear-head[B. M.].

.6Head of Apollo. Similar.

.7

Chersonesus or Cherronesus (Chersoneso), on the north coast near Lyttus, had a temple ofBritomartis (Strabo x. p. 479).

Circ. B.C. 370-300.Head of Britomartis, laur. Apollo, naked,

seated on omphalos holdinglyre; in field, thymiaterion.

AR StaterHead of Britomartis. (or )

Hera- kles striking withuplifted club.AR Stater usually of rude style


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(copied from stater ofStymphalus, p. 454 supra).

Circ. B.C. 300-220.Head of Athena. ... Eagle [Ephem. Arch.,

1889, p. 199].AR Drachm.

Id. Eagle. .45

Id. (or ) Prow. .7-.45

Eagle. .65

Other types, Head of Zeus; Arrow-head (inscr., ).M'berg ANS

Cnossus, in the northern part of the island near Lyttus. Its types chiefly relate to Minos and theMinotaur, and to Zeus and Hera, whose marriage was commemorated at Cnossus by a festival ofthe .

M'berg WW SNG B ANS

Circ. B.C. 500-400.Minotaur running, holding stone

in each band.[Babelon, Trait, pt. 2, 1. No.1968.]

Labyrinth of cruciform maeanderpattern; in centre, star; ateach corner, deep squaredepression.

AR Stater.Id. with inscr. . Similar [N. C., 1896, p. 90]

AR Stater.Minotaur running. Star in inc. sq., within

ornamental frame [Babelon,Trait, No. 1972].

AR Triobol.Minotaur running, inscription- S(N).

Square labyrinth of maeanderpattern (Ephem. Arch., 1889,p. 199, No. 13)

AR Stater.Minotaur running, holding

stones.Beardless bead (Theseus ?)

within square frame ofmaeander pattern. (thelabyrinth).

AR Stater.Id. Square labyrinth of maeander

pattern.AR Stater.

Id. Star within ornamental frameAR Dr., Dr., Obol.


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461Circ. B.C. 400-350.

Female head (Ariadne ?) inmaeander frame.

Zeus seated, holdingphiale and sceptre [Svor., Pl.IV. 33].

AR Stater. Head of Demeter or

Perse- phone in maeanderframe.

Minos seated on throne,holding sceptre [Berlin.Svor., Pl. IV. 34].

AR Stater.Head of Demeter or Persephone. Zeus seated, holding

phiale and sceptre; whole inmaeander pattern.

AR Stater.Id. Labyrinth of maeander pattern

formed like the swastika; incentre, star. (Also withlabyrinth of square form,sometimes inscribed ).

AR Stater.Id. (or ) Bull's

head in maeander frame.AR Stater.

Small bronze usually with a head (Demeter, Zeus, &c.) on each side. Some of the AR have acurious countermark (pomegranate (?) within circle of dots), found also on the coins of severalother Cretan cities (cf. Svoronos in Bull. corr. hell., xii. p. 410, explaining it as a lebes; see alsoTh. Reinach, L'hist. par les monn., p. 27 note).

Circ. B.C. 350-200.

FIG. 243.Head of Hera, wearing

stephanos with floralornaments (Fig. 243).

Square labyrinth,usually with on l. and onr.; also with symbols,spear-head and fulmen.

AR Stater, Drachm, Tetrobol.Head of Apollo. Male figure (Minos?),

seated on square labyrinthholding Nike and sceptre.

AR Drachm.Id. Square labyrinth.

AR Drachm; same types .


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Star. Square labyrinth. .4

Head of Athena. Id.AR Drachm.

Europa, with inflated veil, ridingon bull; beneath, dolphins;border of rays. (type ofGortyna).

Square labyrinth;symbol, star.

.75-.6

Coins of the last described type were probably first struck in B.C. 220,

462when Cnossus united with Gortyna in an attack upon Lyttus and other cities of Crete (N. C.,1884, p. 20; Polyb. iv. 53-55, cf. vii. 12. 9).

Circ. B.C. 200-67.

FIG. 244.

Head of Athena (as on coins ofAthens) (Fig. 244).

. Owl on amphora;symbol, square labyrinth; allin olive-wreath.

AR Attic tetradrachm.

Similar imitations of Athenian tetradrachms appeared circ. B.C. 200 at various Cretan cities,Cydonia, Gortyna, Hierapytna, Lappa, Polyrhenium, and Priansus. These types may have beenadopted for commercial rather than political reasons (cf. N. C., 1884, p. 26 f.).

FIG. 245.

Head of Apollo laur. (magistrates name?) (Fig.245).

Circular labyrinth.AR Attic Tetradrachm.


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Head of Apollo. Square labyrinth [HunterCat., II. p. 176].

.85Head of Zeus Ammon, bearded. Square labyrinth.

AR Drachm.Head of Zeus Ammon,

beardless. Fulmen between two

stars. .8

FIG. 246.

463Head of Zeus (or Minos); some

specimens restruck on AR ofAntiochus IX. Cyzicenus, B.C.116-95 (Fig. 246).

Square labyrinth.(Fig. 246)

AR Attic Tetradrachm.

Head of Zeus. Square labyrinth. .9-.55

Id. (sometimes with ). Eagle and name of magistrate,- , ,, &c.

2-1.0Head of Artemis. Quiver with strap; magistrates

name, ,, &c.

.85Id. Quiver with strap

(also Quiver and bow). .8

Id. Caduceus. .6

Cnossus a Roman Colony (after B.C. 36).

with heads of M. Antonius and Octavius and names of Duumviri. with head of Augustusrev. Labyrinth. Inscr. on all these. CINC (or CNC) EXDD = Colonia Iulia Nobilis Cnossusex decreto Decurio- num. Also inscr., CNIGNOS rev. Roma holding Victory. There are alsosmall with inscr. CC; types., Plough, Labyrinth. For other coins, Tiberius to Nero,sometimes ascribed to Cnossus, see Svor., p. 92 f. The AR coin (wt. 103.3 grs.) in Brit. Mus. (N.C., 1894, p. 4) with obv. Head of Messalina, rev. Octavius, Britannicus, and Antonia may beassigned here rather than to Corinth.


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Cydonia (Khania), one of the most important cities of Crete, was situated on the northern coastnear the western end of the island. Its supposed founder was Kydon, the son of Apollo andAkakallis, daughter of Minos (Paus. viii. 53).

M'berg WW SNG B ANS

Circ. B.C. 400-300.Female head (nymph or

maenad?), wreathed withvine-leaves and grapes; somewith artists signature - .

Naked archer (Kydon?)stringing his bow; before him,sometimes, a dog.

AR Stater.

FIG. 247.

Female head (nymph ormaenad?), wreathed with ivy(Fig. 247).

Hound suckling infant(Ky- don?).

AR Stater and Drachm.Head of Athena. Similar.

AR Drachm.Female head in ivy-wreath. Three crescents (or bucranium

in place of ).AR Trihemiobol.

Youthful head. Three crescents.AR Obol; Hemiobol.

464Head of Demeter. Amphora.

AR Obol.Young horned head. Hound seated.

AR Trihemiobol; also similar .Young male head (Kydon ?). Hound seated.

.55-.45Young male head. Bunch of grapes.

.8-.55Female head. Bunch of grapes.

.6-.45

Miletos, the brother of Kydon, was said to have been suckled in Crete by a wolf; a somewhatsimilar story may have been told of Kydon himself.

Circ. B.C. 200-67.


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About B.C. 200 Cydonia, after a long interval, struck tetradrachms of the Athenian type (seeCnossus). Inscr., ; symbols, Hound suckling Kydon or Zeus hurling fulmen; onthe obverse, magistrates name .

Head of Artemis (Diktynna),with bow and quiver;magistrates name .

Artemis(Diktynna) standing inhunting-dress, holding longtorch; dog beside her; wholein olive-wreath


Diktynna, elsewhere in Crete called Britomartis and more or less assimilated to Artemis, had atemple on Mount Tityrus near Cydonia (Strab. x. 4, p. 479).

Head of Apollo. Hound sucklingKy- don.

AR Drachm.Id. Nike standing.

.85 Head of Apollo. Star and crescent.

.85Owl (inscr. , , , &c.). Id.

.6-.5Head of young Dionysos. Crescent.

.7-.55

ImperialAE Augustus to Trajan (or later ?). Inscr., . TypesHound sucklingKydon; Temple, &c. Also AR of Tiberius (about 119 grs.) with rev. (the Proconsul Cornelius Lupus) and (Laches);type, Veiled and bearded bust of the Senate; also with rev. ,Radiate head of Augustus (see also Svor., p. 116 f. and p. 325). The use of the dative after isnoticeable; it occurs elsewhere in Crete in this period, and it is probable that all these coins wereexecuted at the same mint.

Eleutherna (near modern Prinias), one of the most important towns in the interior of theisland, was situated between Rhithymna, Sybrita, and Axus. Apollo is the principal godrepresented on its coins, generally in the character of a hunter (N. C., 1884, p. 28 f.).

M'berg SNG B ANS

Circ. B.C. 450-300.Apollo advancing, holding stone

and bow; on r. and l., a tree.V (retrograde) Artemis

hun- tress shooting with bow;in front, dog; rude style.

(Paris) AR Stater.

465Head of Apollo laur., sometimes

within laurel-wreath (obv. andrev. often barbarous).

(sic), -, , &c. Apollo,naked, standing holding stoneand bow.


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AR Stater, Dr., Dr., Obol.Same types in .

Head of Zeus. Apollo, naked,standing holding stone andbow [Eph. Arch., 1889, p.202)

AR Stater, Dr.Male head (Apollo ?). (No type).

AR Trihemiobol. Grapes. Apollo (as before).

.65Head of Apollo. Bow.

.5

Third century B.C.Head of Apollo; border of dots;

also with border of rays. Apollo with

bow, quiver, and stone,seated on omphalos, besidewhich, lyre.

.75-.7

Imperial.

Tiberius. Inscr., . AR (wt. 34 grs.), rev. Head of Augustus radiate. Struck under theProconsul Cornelius Lupus ( ).Elyrus (Rhodhovni), the most important town of south-western Crete.

Circ. B.C. 400-300. Head of Cretan goat;

beneath, arrow-head.Bee (sometimes with inscr. ).

AR Drachm. Cretan goat standing

with forefoot placed on tree. Bee.

AR Drachm.Head of Apollo. [] Cretan goat raising

right forefoot [Myres in N.C., 1894, p. 92; Svor., p. 310,No. 2].

.7 (for ?) Forepart of Cretan

goat recumbent, looking back;arrow-head near neck. (Alsowith Head of goat.)

Bee [N. C., 1894, p. 95;Svor. p. 146. Specimens havebeen found at Rhodhovni].

.55

The goat is probably connected with the hunter Apollo of Crete (N. C., 1884, p. 31). The people ofElyrus dedicated at Delphi (Paus. x. 16) the representation of a bronze goat suckling the infantsPhylakis and Phylandros, who were children of Apollo by Akakallis. The bee may refer to alegend connected with the infancy of Zeus (N. C., 1884, p. 33).

SNG B ANS

Gortyna (now village of ), in the southern part of central Crete, rivalled Cnossus in


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wealth and importance.

M'berg WW SNG B ANS

Circ. B.C. 480-430.Europa riding on bull. ICV (

) on the four sides ofa square, within which, lionsscalp facing; incuse square.(Others of similar typeswithout inscr. Also asomewhat later didrachm withrev. inscr. V- ).

AR Stater.

466Bull recumbent. Same inscr. as No. 1. Lions

scalp; incuse square [WeberColl., N. C., 1892, p. 198; var.in Brit. Mus. Also Dr., Dr.,and Obol, without inscr.].

AR Drachm.

Cf. see Phaestus, infra. Lenormant supposes to be derived from, to strike, as from ; cf. the coin struck by Seuthes,supra, p. 282.

Circ. B.C. 430 (or later) to circ. B.C. 300.

FIG. 248.

Europa seated in tree (Fig.248).

VS, V (orwithout inscr.) Bull, usuallystanding

AR Stater.

Many specimens are of barbarous execution, especially on the obverse; the prototype is,however, of beautiful work. Some are restruck on coins Of Cnossus and Cyrene (obv. ZeusAmmon, rev. Silphium). The tree, though somewhat diversely represented, is probably intendedfor the Gortynian platanus mentioned by Theophrastus (Hist. Plant. i. 9. 5) and Pliny (xii. 1.5):Est Gortynae in insula Creta iuxta fontem platanus una insignis utriusque linguae monimentis,numquam folia dimittens, statimque ei Graeciae fabulositas superfuit Iovem sub ea cum Europaconcubuisse. On the earlier staters Europa [1] is seated in pensive atti- tude, and an eagle (Zeus)


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sometimes perches on a branch near her. Some specimens are inscribed SVS =(?), an inscription hard to explain; according to the Scholiast on Theocritus (Num. Chron., 1891,p. 417), was the name of a Cretan town. On the somewhat later series the seated Europamuch resembles a figure of Hera, wearing a polos and holding a sceptre surmounted by a bird;on her knees is the eagle with expanded wings, and a bulls head is sometimes seen in front ofthe trunk. It would seem that the Gortynian version of the myth was that Zeus, after carrying offEuropa in the form of a bull, approached her again in the form of an eagle.

Female head (Europa ?),wearing sphen- done;sometimes inscribed V.

Forepart (or head and neck) ofbull.

AR Dr., Dr.Head of Persephone or Demeter. Bulls head.

AR Dr.

1 Svoronos (Rev. belge, 1894, p. 113; cf. N. C., 1894, p. 182) considers that the figure is Britomartis seated in an oak.

467Third century B.C.

Europa seated in tree, holdingout veil; on tree, eagle.

Bull standing.AR 96 grs.

Id.; border of rays. Europa seated onbull; wreath.

.8-.65

A Gortynian decree of the third or second century B.C. enjoins, under a penalty, the use of thebronze money ( ) which the city has put in circulation, and also fixes a fineto be paid by any one who accepts in payment silver obols ( ); see the inscription in Journ. Int., 1898, p. 165 (Halbherr); ib., p. 173 (Svoronos); andTh. Reinach in Rev. Num., 1904, p. 12, and cf p. 465.

Circ. B.C. 200-67.

Tetradrachms of Athenian types (as at Cnossus, &c.). Inscr., - . Symbol, Bullrushing, and magistrates name (N. C., 1899, p. 93).

FIG. 249.

Head of Zeus (Fig. 249.). Athena armedstanding holding Nike; beforeher, serpent; olive-wreath.Magistrate, .



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Id. Naked male figure,with bow and quiver, seatedon rock .

AR Attic Drachm.Id. Naked male figure

(the founder Gortys ?)advancing with spear andshield; border of rays.

AR Dr. (Similar rev. on .)Id. [Svoronos, p. 172, No. 113.] Bull.

AV 133 grs.Id. Europa on bull

AR Dr.Head of Helios. Eagle holding serpent;

border of rays.AR Dr.

BRONZE. TypesHeads of Zeus, Hermes, Artemis, Apollo; Athena holding serpent; Bull;Europa on bull (N. C., 1884, p. 38).

Circ. B.C. 66. Head of Roma in winged

helmet, adorned withelephants head; in front,mon. . [Svor., p. 181.]

Ephesian Artemis (ason AV staters of Ephesus); infield, bee and elephantshead; laurel-wreath [Ber- lin,Paris].


468The elephants head is the family emblem of the Caecilii Metelli, and this tetradrachm wasdoubtless struck at Gortyna after the conquest of Crete by Q. Caecilius Metellus, B.C. 67, andwhile he was organizing the government of the island, which was constituted a Roman Provincein B.C. 66. (For a cistophorus, probably struck at Gortyna, see infra, Province of Crete.)

ImperialInscr., , &c. Tiberius, AR rev. Radiate head of Augustus; name of ProconsulCornelius Lupus ( ). Caligula and Germanicus. rev. Head of Germanicus; inscr., - . The name of Augurinus occurs also at Hierapytna and Polyrhenium. For with the dative see Cydonia. Trajan. rev. C Warrior (Gortys ?), with spear andcircular shield. See also Province of Crete, infra.

Hierapytna (Gierapetra), on the southern coast, west of Cape Erythraeum.

M'berg WW SNG B ANS

Circ. B.C. 400-350. V between the limbs of a

tris- keles; wreath.Forepart of boar; wreath

[Berlin; Svor., p. 188, No. 1;Z. f. N., xxi. 215].

AR Stater.

Circ. B.C. 300.


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FIG. 250.

Head of Zeus; one specimen ofthis type is from the same dieas a stater of Eleutherna.

Palm-tree with eagle at itsfoot (Fig. 250).

AR Stater.Head of Zeus. Id. [Svor., p. 188, No. 3].

AR about 12 grs.

Circ. B.C. 200.

Tetradrachms of Athenian types (as at Cnossus, &c.). Inscr., . Symbol, Eagle, or withoutsymbol. Magistrates, ; .

Circ. B.C. 200-67.Female head, turreted. Palm-tree and

eagle; magistrates name;whole in wreath

AR Spread Tetradr. 230 grs.Id. Id.

AR Didr. 116 grs.Id. Id.

AR Dr. 57 grs.

Among the names on these coins are :, (Eph. Arch., 1889, p. 203),. , , , , ,, .

469Female head, turreted. (on the mon. see Svor.,

p. 301 f.) Palm-tree and eagle[Imhoof, Mon. gr., p. 220, No.51).

.75Head of Zeus. Palm-tree; in field,

aplustre .6

Young male head. Id. mag., . .45

Head of Zeus. Palm-tree [N. C., 1897, p.32].

.5


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Star. and mag. Palm-tree[Svor., p. 192, No. 33].

.5Young head. Mon. of Hierapytna. Prow

[Svor., p. 193, No. 41]. .4

Imperial. AR Divus Augustus. rev. (= ) Head of Zeus Kretagenes. Wt. about 138 grs. Tiberius. AR with and rev. Head of Augustus radiate. Wt. about 41 grs. Caligula. AE. Inscr., or , rev. Eagle; in field, palm-tree.Hyrtacina has the same types as Elyrus, to the west of which it was situated.

SNG B ANS

Circ. B.C. 400-300. , , Head of

Cretan goat; behind,arrow-head.

Bee.AR Drachm.

Goats head. Bee, and monogram [N. C.,1894, p. 96].

.55-.45

Also small thin AR pieces (some specimens in gold, N. C., 1892, p. 199) recording an alliancebetween Hyrtacina and Lisus. Usual type: Dove (or eagle?) on obv. and rev. Inscr., -; -;-, or without inscr. Also types: dolphin, star.Similar uninscribed thin AV pieces with eagle-type, &c. (wt. 10 - 12 grs.), procured atPolyrhenium, probably belong to Hyrtacina or Lisus (Brit. Mus. = Montagu Sale Cat., March,1896, lot 448).

Itanus, an important town on the eastern coast.

M'berg WW SNG B ANS

Fifth and fourth century B.C.Sea-god (Glaukos or Triton ?),

half-man, half-fish, strikingdownwards with trident.

Ornamented star in incusesquare. (Later specimens withwreath encir- cling the star).

AR Stater.Id. Star.

AR Obol.


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FIG. 251.

470Id. (Fig. 251). or Two

sea-monsters face to face;incuse circle.

AR Stater, Drachm, Dr.Head of Athena in Athenian

helmet. Two sea-monsters face

to face; inc. sq. [some withthe name instead of; Svor. in Journ. Int.,1898, p. 157].

AR Stater.Id. or Eagle

looking back; in field of some,small figure of sea-god.

AR Stater, Dr., Dr.Id. Star; incuse circle [see also

Svor., p. 206, Nos. 42-44].AR Obol, Obol.

The eagle doubtless refers to the Zeus worshipped at Itanus (Michel, Recueil, No. 1317;inscr. of Itanus).

Lappa (Polis or Argyropolis), an inland town of western Crete.

M'berg SNG B ANS

Circ. B.C. 400-300.Female head, r.

[N. C., 1894, p. 10, No. 10.]Bulls head facing; one horn

turned downwards.AR Drachm.

Young head. Similar bulls head.AR 11-13 grs.

Head of bull. .AR 11 grs.

with bulls head and rev. or ; Svor., pp. 211, 212.Circ. B.C. 200 or earlier to B.C. 67.

Head of Poseidon. Trident and twodolphins [Svor., p. 212, Nos.11, 12].

1.0Head of Artemis. Tripod.

.5Id. Bulls head with one horn turned

downwards. .5

Tetradrachm of Athenian types. Inscr., . Symbol, bulls head with one horn turned


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down (Eph. Arch., 1899, p. 204, No. 39).

Head of Apollo. Apollo standing holdinglyre and plectrum. Mag..

AR 53-45 grs. (reduced Atticdrachm).

Id. Lyre. .85

Id. Lyre. .55

Imperial. Inscr., , Augustus , rev. Apollo standing with lyre. Tiberius AR, rev.Head of Augustus (). Domitian , rev. Apollo standing; Athena; Three ears of corn.Domitia , rev. Artemis with bow. Hadrian , rev. Athena (Svor., p. 216, No. 35).

Latus (Svor., p. 217).Circ. B.C. 200-67.

Head of Artemis (or Eileithyia). Hermes walking. .55

Id. [Svor., p. 220, No. 3.] Bust of Hermes. .4

471

There was a temple of Eileithyia at Latus (Michel, Rec., No. 28, No. 60), and Hermes was one ofthe gods honoured by the citizens (C. I. G., No. 2554).

Imperial. Caligula , rev. - Head ofGermanicus (N. C., 1891, p. 128). For with dative see Cydonia. For bronze coins with large

, &c., on rev., see Svor., p. 220 (Latos-Etera).

M'berg ANS

Lisus, in the south-west of the island (Svor., p. 222 f.), near Hyrtacina and Elyrus.

Fourth century B.C.Head of Artemis. Dolphin.

.7 Dove (or eagle ?). Dove (or eagle ?).

AV 17 grs.Id. Plain reverse [N. C., 1891, p.

129].AR 9.5

Goats head. Bee. .45

Caps of Dioskuri. Bow and quiver. .7

Also alliance coins with Hyrtacina (q. v.).


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M'berg ANS

Lyttus (Xyda), an important city in the eastern part of central Crete.

SNG B ANS

Circ. B.C. 450-300.Eagle flying. VS Head and forefoot of

boar; inc. square [Brit. Mus.(Bunbury Coll.); cf. Eph.Arch., 1889, p. 205, Nos. 41,42].

AR Stater.Eagle standing. VSN Boars head; inc. sq.

AR Dr.Eagle flying. VSN; V; VSS; -

Boars head; inc. sq.AR Stater, Dr., Dr.

Eagle flying. Head and forefoot of boar; inc.sq. [Hunter Cat., ii. p. 191,No. 7].

AR Dr.

The eagle doubtless refers to Zeus; for it was in a cave of Mount Aegaeum, near Lyttus, thatRhea gave birth to the god (Hes. Theog., 477; N. C., 1884, p. 42).

Circ. B.C. 300-220.Boars head. Eagle standing.

AR Attic Drachm.Head of Athena. Prow.

.5Head of Zeus. Eagle standing;

symbol, boars head. .7

Other bronze coins with Boars head and Eagle types: inscr., - , &c.Imperial. The autonomous coinage appears to end in B.C. 220, when

472Lyttus was destroyed by the Cnossians. But the city was afterwards rebuilt, and seems to havebeen of some importance in Roman times. There are AR coins of Caligula (rev. Head ofGermanicus), inscr., : Svor., p. 239.Malla (Mallasi), a town near Lyttus (Svor., p. 240). Its chief divinity was Zeus or.

Third or Second century B.C.Head of Zeus. Eagle standing.

.65


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Id. Fulmen. .5

ANS

Moda (? modern , near Polyrhenium), known only from coins.Fourth century B.C.

Head of Zeus. [Svor., p. 244.] Bulls head facing.AR Stater.

Myrina, mentioned in Plin. N. H. iv. 12. 59 (Svor., p. 245 f.).

Fourth century B.C.Bulls head and neck. V Bulls head and neck;

circular incuse.AR Dr.

Female head; hair rolled. Id. [N. C., 1895, p. 96. No. 11].AR Dr.

Bulls head and neck. in circular incuse.AR 16 grs.

SNG B ANS

Olus (mod. and ), on the north-east coast. Its temple of Britomartiscontained a statue of the goddess by Daedalus (Paus. ix. 40. 3). It had also a temple of ZeusTallaeos (B. C. H., iii. p. 293).

Circ. B.C. 330-200.Head of Artemis Britomartis

wearing laurel-wreath; quiverat neck.

Zeus seated holdingeagle

AR 166 grs.Similar. in laurel-wreath.

AR 34 grs.Similar. [] Tripod.

AR 20 grs.Similar. Star.

AR 11 grs.Similar. .

AR 9 grs.Head of Artemis Britomartis. Zeus seated holding

eagle. .5

Also small with head of Britomartis, and rev. , (in mon.), &c.; symbol, dolphin.ANS

Phaestus, west of Gortyna, one of the most ancient and important towns of Crete. Many of itstypes relate to Herakles, father (or grand- father) of Phaestus, the eponymous hero.

WW SNG B ANS


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Circ. B.C. 480.Europa riding on bull (cf. the

earliest coin of Gortyna withsimilar types andcorresponding inscr.).

ICIIIC ( ) Lions scalp withinsquare; whole in incusesquare.

AR Stater.

473Circ. B.C. 430-300.

O]SSC[ Europa seated onrock welcoming with raisedhand the bull advancingtowards her.

Hermes seated holdingcaduceus.

AR Stater.

Female head (Europa). Forepart of bull kneeling [HunterCat., ii. p. 192, No. 1, Pl. XLII.12]

AR Stater.Herakles with bow and club

standing; lion-skin hangingbehind, in field.

Bulls head.AR Stater.

Id. C Bull feeding; legstied.

AR Stater.Herakles standing; on l.,

serpent; on r., tree.Bull tethered; laurel-wreath

AR Stater. Herakles with club

attack- ing serpent.Bull; wreath [Z. f. N., xvii. p. 7].

AR Stater.

FIG. 252.

Herakles with club attackinghydra; at his foot, crab (Fig.252).

Bull.AR Stater.

When Herakles with the help of Iolaos destroyed the Lernaean hydra, a gigantic crab came tothe assistance of the hydra and wounded Herakles in the foot (Apollod. ii. 5. 2). The bull on thecoins is probably the famous Cretan bull bound by Herakles.

Herakles seated,resting; bow and quiver tiedto tree (or to a column); largevase beside him.

Bull walking.AR Stater.


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Head of Herakles.[Svor., p. 256, No. 8.]

(sic) Two bullsstanding r.

AR Stater.

FIG. 253.

C (retrograde)Youthful male figure seated intree; in r. hand holds a cock(Fig. 253). Zeus Vel-chanos(?), but cf. Rossbach(Rhein. Mus., n. s., vol. 44, p.437 f.) on Hesy- chius s.v..

(, ) Bullrushing (sometimes walking).

AR Stater.

474

FIG. 254.

Naked male figurewinged (Talos) hurling stone(Fig. 254).

Bull rushingAR Stater.

Similar, with dog between legsof Talos.

Forepart of bull.AR Stater.

Young male head (Herakles orPhae- stos). Also with Femalehead.[Svor., p. 255, Nos. 4, 5.]

Talos hurling stone; dogbetween legs [Z. f. N., xvii. p.7, No. 2]

AR Stater. or Young male bead

(Hera- kles or Phaestos).Bulls head [Cf. N. C., 1892, p.

200, No. 29].AR Dr., Dr.

Circ. B.C. 300-250.Talos running, hurling stone. C Hound on the scent

.7


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Talos (or Talon), the wondrous man of brass made by Hephaestos, was the guardian of Crete,who daily perambulated the island and hurled stones at strange vessels that approached it. Thedog is doubtless the golden dog made by Hephaestos, and set as a protector to the infant Zeus inCrete, and afterwards to the temple of Zeus (N. C., 1884, p. 50 f.).

Phalasarna, at the north-west extremity of the island, possessed a temple of Artemis Diktynnaand a fortified harbour (Svor., p. 268).

Circ. B.C. 400-300.Head of Diktynna, her hair

bound with crossing cord. Trident.

AR Stater.Id.; hair rolled. Id.

AR Drachms Dr.(Sometimes restruck on coins

of Argos.)Id. Id. [Svor., p. 270, No. 9].

.5 (mon.). (No type.) Id. [Svor., p. 271, No. 11].

.8 (No type). Dolphin.

.45

WW ANS

Polyrhenium (Palaeokastro Kissmou). Its territory occupied most of the western end of theisland. It had a temple of Artemis Diktynna (Strabo x. 479).

M'berg SNG B ANS

Circ. B.C. 400-330.Head of Diktynna, hair rolled

(sometimes with hair incoif). Signature of theengraver ; seealso Aptera, supra.

Bulls head facing, with pendentfillets. (Sometimes restruck oncoins of Argos; N. C., 1900, p.18).

AR Drachm.

For small AV coins sometimes attributed to this city see under Hyrtacina, supra.

475Circ. B.C. 330-280.

Head of Zeus. Bulls head facing,with pendent fillets; beneath,arrow-head. Mag.,

AR Stater. (and, Hunter Cat., II.p. 196, No. 5) Bull's headfacing, with pendent fillets.

Spear-head.AR Dr.


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Head of Athena. Bulls head facing,with pendent fillets.

.65Bulls head facing. , &c. Spear-head.

.65Round shield, on which bulls

head., &c. Id.

.7-.45 Bow. [Svor., p. 281, No. 38.] Arrow-head.

.6Boeotian shield (probably

recording an alliance withThebes).

Goats head andarrow-head [N. C., 1894, p.94].

.6

Circ. B.C. 200-67.Male head, with whisker; wears

taenia; bow and quiver atneck (Philip V of Macedon asApollo ?).[N. C., 1884, p. 54.]

Female figure(Dik- tynna ?) seated holdingNike.


Bust of Diktynna facing, withbow and quiver.

Apollo (?)advancing with bow.

AR Attic Dr.

Tetradrachms of Athenian types (as at Cnossus, &c.). Inscr., - . Symbol-Artemisshooting with bow. Also with types referring to Apollo and to Hermes (Svor., p. 282 and p.283), and with obv. Head of Athena, rev. Owl. (Svor., p. 283, No. 50.)Imperial. Augustus. Radiate head of Augustus,rev. (cf. Hierapytna) Head of Zeus Kretagenes laur.; beneath,fulmen. AR Wt. 147 grains (Paris, Svor., p. 284, No. 52). Caligula. with rev. Head ofGermanicus. . For with dative see Cydonia.Praesus (Annual of Brit. School at Athens, viii. 1901-1902, p. 231 f.). The territory of this cityoccupied the greater part of the eastern end of Crete, bordering upon that of Itanus. The city wasdestroyed by the Hierapytnians some time after B.C. 148. Several coins refer to the worship ofZeus , whose temple stood on Mount Dikte east of the town.

WW SNG B ANS

Circ. B.C. 450-400.Gorgoneion. Youthful figure (Herakles ?) in

chlamys, kneeling andshooting with bow; incusesquare.

AR Stater.Cow suckling infant (Zeus ?). S Herakles (?) kneeling and

shooting with bow [Svor., p.286, No. 2 (Paris); N. C.,1896, p. 18 (Weber Coll.)].


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Youthful figure (Herakles ?) inchlamys, kneeling andshooting with bow.

S Eagle; incuse square.AR Stater, Dr.

476Circ. B.C. 400 to circ. B.C. 148.

Zeus Diktaeos enthroned,holding eagle and sceptre.

Bull butting [B. M. C.,Crete, Praesus, No. 5; cf. N.C., 1892, p. 30].

AR Stater.Zeus Diktaeos (as above). Forepart of goat looking back.

AR Stater and Dr.Id. Herakles standing wielding

club and holding bow [Svor.,p. 288, No. 21].

AR Stater.Head of Apollo. Forepart of goat looking

back; behind, arrow-head.AR Stater.

Id. Herakles with cluband bow (as above).

AR Stater.Id. Goats head in laurel-wreath

AR Dr.Id. Bulls head.

AR Dr.Head of Demeter or Persephone

wreathed with corn (as onSyracusan coins).

Rushing bull; symbol,rose.

AR Stater.Id. Bulls head; symbol,

rose.AR Dr.

Id. Bee; symbol, roseAR Dr.

Head of Apollo. Bee.AR Dr.

Id. C Fulmen. .7

Priansus, probably an inland town in the valley of the Katarrhaktes, near Mount Dikte (Svor.,p. 293).

M'berg ANS

Circ. B.C. 430-200.Goddess enthroned beneath

palm-tree, caressing serpentwhich rises to her hand.

Poseidon inhimation standing holdingtrident and dolphin.

AR Stater.


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Similar. Forepart of goat looking back; infield, arrow-head [Svor., p.296, No. 6]

AR Stater.Female head (Artemis ?). Palm-tree between

dolphin and rudder.AR Dr.

Id. Trident.AR Dr.

Id. Palm-tree.AR .65

The goddess fondling the serpent may be Persephone approached by Zeus in the likeness of aserpent (cf. coin of Selinus in Sicily, supra, p. 169; N. C., 1884, p. 56), or possibly Hygieia, forthere was a temple of Askle- pios at Leben near Priansus.

Circ. B.C. 200.Tetradrachms with Athenian types (as at Cnossus, &c.). Inscr., ; symbol, palm-tree.Magistrates, ; - (N. C., 1899, p. 94).

Female head (Artemis?). Poseidon striking withtrident

.65Id. CW Palm-tree between

rudder and dolphin; borderof rays.

.7

477

Rhaucus lay between Gortyna and Cnossus. Though an inland town, it had a cultus ofPoseidon, like Mantineia, the various Thessalian towns, &c. Circ. B.C. 166 Cnossus and Gortynamade a combined attack upon Rhaucus and divided its territory between them (Polyb. xxxi. 1).

SNG B ANS

Circ. B.C. 430-300.Poseidon Hippios, naked,

holding trident and standingbeside his horse (horse's footsometimes on prow).

Trident (on the earlierspecimens within incusesquare).

AR Stater.

Circ. B.C. 300 to circ. B.C. 166.Head of Poseidon; trident at

shoulder. Trident between two

dolphins.AR Dr.

Head of Poseidon.[Svor., p. 307, No. 24.]

Two dolphins.AR Dr.

Head of Demeter or Persephone. Head of tridentAR Obol.


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Horses head. Dolphin and trident. .7

Head of Poseidon. Trident between twodolphins.

.8 Two dolphins. Head of trident.

.45 Dolphin. Head of trident.

.45

Rhithymna (Rethymnos), on the northern coast.

Circ. B.C. 400-300.Head of Apollo. Apollo holding stone and

bow.AR Stater.

Head of Athena. Trident between twodolphins.

AR Dr.Id. Trident.

AR Dr.Id. (or ) Two dolphins.

.55Id. Trident.

.55-.4

ANS

Sybrita, an inland town, south of Eleutherna.

ANS

Circ. B.C. 400-300, or later.Dionysos, bearded, seated,

holding kan- tharos andthyrsos.

Hermes standing,holding phiale and caduceus[Svor., p. 314, No. 1].

AR Stater.Similar. Similar [Ib., No. 2]

AR Dr.Head of Dionysos, bearded and

wreathed with ivy; in front,grapes.

Head of Hermes; infront, caduceus [N. C., 1890,p. 321, No. 20].

AR Stater.Similar. Similar type [N. C., 1 895, p.

97, No. 14].AR Dr.

Young Dionysos holding thyrsos,riding on galloping panther.

Hermes, wearingchlamys, stooping forward andplacing his foot on a rock,while he ties his sandal; in


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front, caduceus.AR Stater.

Head of young Dionysoswreathed with ivy; behind,grapes.

Hermes, standingholding long caduceus [HunterCat., II. p. 199, No. 31.

AR Stater.

478Apollo (?) seated on rock

adjusting bow. Head of Hermes; petasos

at neck [Svor., p. 315, No. 7].AR Dr.

Head of young Dionysos. Goats head andspear [Brit. Mus. = Eph.Arch., 1889, p. 210, No. 60].

AR Dr.Head of goat. Grapes [Similar types on

without inscr.; Eph. Arch.,1889, p. 210. No 62].

AR Obol.Top of caduceus. (in mon.) within incuse

square.AR Obol.

Head of Hermes. Caduceus. .7

Id. Jawbone of animal .5

Head of Zeus. Similar. .8

Id. Spear-head and branches[Svor., p. 316, No. 15].

.35 Dolphin. Trident in wreath [Hunter Cat.,

II. p. 199, No. 5]. .5

Tanus, mentioned only by Steph. Byz. (Svor., p. 318).

B.C. 400-300.Head of young Dionysos. Globule between three

crescents.AR Obol.

Young male head, r. Head of Hermes.AR Obol.

ANS

Tarra, on the south-west coast, not far from Elyrus, Lisus, and Hyrtacina.

Fourth century B.C. Head of goat; beneath, Bee [N. C., 1896, p. 19].


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arrow- head. AR Drachm.Head of goat. (= ) Bee [Svor., p. 321,

No. 2]. .4

The people of Tarra worshipped an Apollo (Steph. Byz., s.v., ), to whom thegoats head may refer (cf. under Elyrus and Hyrtacina, supra).

ANS

Tylisus ( and ), on the north coast between Rhaucus and the sea.Circ. B.C. 400-300.

Head of Hera wearing stephanosadorned with floral devices.

and , some-times retrograde. Apollo,naked, standing holding goatshead and bow; in field, shrub,or arrow-head [Variety with; Svor., p. 330, No.10].

AR Stater.

ANS

479

M'berg

Cista mystica with serpent;ivy-wreath.

Between two serpents, ZeusKreta- genes standing holdingeagle and hurling fulmen[Svor., p. 334, No. 1]

AR Cistophorus.

Probably struck at Gortyna between B.C. 66 and the battle of Actium, B.C. 31.

ImperialCaligula to Antoninus Pius, chiefly , but there are AR of Caligula, Claudius, &c.;weights, 160 grs. (Didr.), 120 grs. (1 Dr.), 45 grs. ( Dr.). There are also AR, reign of Nero,probably of Crete, inscribed C (Assaria Italica 24?)=the drachm, circ. 84 grs., and C (Assaria Italica 12?) = dr., circ. 37 grs. (Brit. Mus., Imhoof, G. M., p. 687 f.). Inscr.Coins of the earlier emperors give no indication of the place of issue, but from the reign ofDomitian, or appear. Chief typesAugustus, radiate, seated in curulechair or in car drawn by four elephants; around, seven stars (the Great Bear). The Korybantesdancing. C C standing hurling fulmen; around, seven stars (Svor., p. 342, No.45; R. N., 1898, p. 677 f.). Eagle. Altar. Nymph holding infantZeus (Svor., p. 346, No. 74). Infant Zeus seated on globe; near him, goat; around, seven stars.Europa on bull. Artemis. Diktynna hunting (Svor., p. 343, No. 55). seated and trophy. Emperor, Nike, and captive. Dacia captive. Thewarrior C. Altar. Tripod, &c.


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Uncertain Coins of Crete.

See Svor., pp. 331, 332, also p. 121 (Dictynna); p. 147 (Eltyna?); p. 150 (Heracleion ?); p. 272, cf.Eph. Arch., 1889, p. 209, No. 52 (Poekilasos ?); p. 326, cf. Eph. Arch., 1889, Pl. XIII, No. 14(Thenae?); Eph. Arch. 1889, p. 206 (Orion?); Svor., p. 319, No. 1 (Tanos or Cydonia:uninscribed didrachm with obv. fine head of young Dionysos, rev. Tripod). Didrachm (ofPriansus ?), N. C., 1895, p. 96. Didrachm, obv. male figure seated in tree holding wreath; rev.Apollo seated in laurel-tree holding lyre (Hunter Cat., II. Pl. XLIII. 7). See also Hunter Cat.,Uncertain, II. p. 200 f. (No. 3, p. 200 is now recognized by Macdonald as a coin of Etruria; op.cit., III. p. 748).


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Ancient Coins of Crete