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Marcus Agrippa and His Coins of the Roman Empire

Artistic Image of Marcus Agrippa.

By Dr. Steve Benner for CoinWeek …..
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa was born to a plebeian family near Rome or possibly Pisa in about 63 BCE. He was the same age as Octavian, the nephew of Julius Caesar, and they met at school in Apollonia, Illyria, becoming very close friends. For more than three decades, the two worked together to make Rome into the greatest empire in history. Agrippa served as Augustus’ general and admiral and oversaw the construction of some of the most important buildings in the capital city.

The Life of Agrippa and His Coins

To cover in detail all of the things that Agrippa did during his life would require a much larger article than I’m writing here, so I’m going to cover a few highlights of his career and the coins minted in his honor.

After the death of Julius Caesar in 44 BCE, Octavian returned to Italy with Agrippa from Apollonia in Illyria. In April 43, Octavian was acclaimed Imperator (imperator simply meant “commander” at this point), and, in December, Agrippa was elected tribune of the plebians. In 42, Agrippa served as a military commander under the triumvirs Marc Antony and Octavian in the Battle of Philippi, where two of Caesar’s assassins, Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius, killed themselves after losing the fight. Upon the pair’s return to Italy, Agrippa played a major role in the successful Perusine War against Lucius Antonius and Fulvia, the brother and wife of Marc Antony, in 41 BCE.

In 40, Agrippa was made praetor urbanus, or chief magistrate of Rome, with orders to stop Sextus Pompeius’ raids on the Italian coast. Later that year, he staged the Ludi Apolloniares, religious games held annually in honor of Apollo. Agrippa led successful military operations against M. Antony and S. Pompeius in southern Italy, which led to a peace agreement between the two triumvirs. Octavian appointed Agrippa governor of Transalpine Gaul in late 40. While in Gaul, Agrippa suppressed an uprising of Aquitanians and crossed the Rhine to attack Germanic tribes.

Agrippa returned to Rome and was offered a triumph but refused. In January 37 BCE, he was elected consul, and the first coin honoring him was minted (Figure 2). The denarius’ obverse has Julius Caesar facing Octavian with the legend DIVOS IVILIVS / DIVI F, which means “Son of the Divine Caesar”, and a reverse with M AGRIPPA COS/DESIG, which means “M. Agrippa, Consul Designate”. This coin was also issued with only Octavian on the obverse with the legend IMP CAESAR DIVI IVLI F. These coins tend to be expensive but not too rare.

Figure 2: Octavian, Divus Julius Caesar, and Agrippa. 38 BC. AR Denarius. Military mint traveling with Agrippa in Gaul or Octavian in Italy. Wreathed head of the deified Julius Caesar right, facing bare head of Octavian left; DIVOS IVILIVS upward to left, DIVI F downward to right / M • AGRIPPA COS/DESIG in two lines, 18mm. 4.03 g., Crawford 334/4. (CNG 112. Lot: 575, $9500, 9/11/2019).
Figure 2: Octavian, Divus Julius Caesar, and Agrippa. 38 BC. AR Denarius. Military mint traveling with Agrippa in Gaul or Octavian in Italy. Wreathed head of the deified Julius Caesar right, facing bare head of Octavian left; DIVOS IVILIVS upward to left, DIVI F downward to right / M • AGRIPPA COS/DESIG in two lines, 18mm. 4.03 g., Crawford 334/4. (CNG 112. Lot: 575, $9500, 9/11/2019).

Also in 37, Agrippa married Caecilia Attica, who would provide him with a daughter, Vipsania Agrippina, the following year. Octavian entrusted Agrippa with the war against Sextus Pompeius, and Agrippa started work on cutting a channel from Lacus Lucrinus (near modern Naples) to the sea and joining Lake Avernus to Lucrinus. This created a protected harbor, Portus Iulius, that S. Pompeius could not attack, and he could train his 20,000 oarsmen.

In July 36 BCE, Agrippa took the offensive and defeated Pompeius’ admiral at Mylae and then Pompeius himself at the Battle of Naulochus in September. Pompeius fled to Miletus in Anatolia and was executed by a Roman official. As a result of his victory, Agrippa was awarded the Corona Navalis, a unique honor. Though minted much later in 12 BCE, the coin in Figure 3 shows Agrippa wearing the crown on the reverse with Octavian on the obverse; Lentulus is the moneyer. Again, this is an expensive coin and relatively rare.

Figure 3: Augustus, with Agrippa. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius. Rome mint. Cossus Cor- nelius Lentulus, moneyer. Struck 12 BC. AVGVSTVS COS • XI, head of Augustus right, wearing oak wreath / • M • AGRIPPA • COS • TER • COSSVS • LENTVLVS, head of Agrippa right, wearing mural and rostral crown, 3.91 g., RIC I 414. (Triton XI, Lot: 826, $22,000, 1/7/08).
Figure 3: Augustus, with Agrippa. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius. Rome mint. Cossus Cor- nelius Lentulus, moneyer. Struck 12 BC. AVGVSTVS COS • XI, head of Augustus right, wearing oak wreath / • M • AGRIPPA • COS • TER • COSSVS • LENTVLVS, head of Agrippa right, wearing mural and rostral crown, 3.91 g., RIC I 414. (Triton XI, Lot: 826, $22,000, 1/7/08).

In 35 BCE, Agrippa lead military operations along the coast of Dalmatia and then returned to Rome. In 34, he was appointed curule aedile, the official in charge of buildings and festivals, and began a program of public works and improvements. He built and repaired the aqueducts (including the Aqua Marcia), repaired streets, cleaned out sewers (including the Cloaca Maxima), constructed baths and porticos, laid out gardens, and organized exhibitions of art.

In October 32, the Senate declared war on Cleopatra (and M. Antonius). Agrippa was appointed admiral of Octavian’s fleet and began operations against the coast of Greece. On September 2, 31 BCE, the opposing fleets met at Actium, and Agrippa and Octavian were victorious. Antony and Cleopatra fled to Egypt, where they committed suicide. Agrippa withdrew the troops back to Italy and exercised interim powers in Rome with Maecenas. In 29, Octavian celebrated a triple triumph and awarded Agrippa more honors, including a sea-blue vexillum pennant.

In January of 28 and 27, Agrippa was appointed his second and third consulships with Octavian. Caecilia apparently having died, Agrippa married Claudia Marcella, Octavian’s niece, in October 28. In 27, Octavian was granted the honorific title of Augustus, and Agrippa supervised improvements in the Campus Martius, completed construction of the Parthenon, the Saepta Iulia, and the Basilica of Neptune, and began construction of the Baths of Agrippa.

In 23 BCE, Agrippa began a tour of the eastern provinces, where he negotiated the return of the aquilae (eagle standards) from the Parthians and received the title of proconsulare imperium. Returning to Rome in 21, he divorced Claudia to marry Julia the Elder, the only daughter of Augustus, and was put in charge of Rome while Augustus was away in the East. A son, Gaius Vipsanius Agrippa, was born to Agrippa and Julia in 20. Next year, Agrippa traveled to Narbonensis in southern Gaul to drive back a German invasion and reorganize the Gallic provinces. Also, that year, Vipsania Julia Agrippina, another daughter, was born to Agrippa. He then traveled to the Iberian Peninsula to conclude the Asturian-Cantabrian War and returned to Rome in 18, where his imperium and tribunicia potestas were extended for five years.

In 17 BCE, another son, Lucius Vipsanius Agrippa, was born, and Augustus adopted both Lucius and Gaius. Figure 4 is a coin that was minted starting in the year 2 BCE, 10 years after Agrippa’s death, but it shows Agrippa’s children as the heirs of Augustus. The obverse is Augustus, and the reverse shows Gaius and Lucius facing forward with a shield between them and sacred instruments above. The reverse legend translates as “Gaius and Lucius, sons of Caesar Augustus, consuls elect, princes of the youth.” This was minted in large quantities and can be relatively easy to find, though in VF can still be a little pricey.

Figure 4: Augustus. 27 BC-14 AD. AR Denarius. Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck 2 BC- 14 AD. CAESAR AVGSTVS DIVIF PATER PATRIAE, laureate head of Augustus right / AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT, C L CAESARES. Gaius and Lucius Cae- sars standing forward. shields and spears between them: simpulum and lituus above, 18mm, 3.72 g., RIC 1207. (CNG 738382, $895).
Figure 4: Augustus. 27 BC-14 AD. AR Denarius. Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck 2 BC- 14 AD. CAESAR AVGSTVS DIVIF PATER PATRIAE, laureate head of Augustus right / AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT, C L CAESARES. Gaius and Lucius Cae- sars standing forward. shields and spears between them: simpulum and lituus above, 18mm, 3.72 g., RIC 1207. (CNG 738382, $895).

In 16 BCE, Agrippa traveled to the East again, and another daughter, Vipsania Agrippina, was born to him in 14. He returned to Rome in the year 13, and his tribune powers and imperium were renewed. Agrippa left for Illyricum and Pannonia to quash the revolt there. By now it was obvious that Augustus was grooming his two grandsons as his successors, with Agrippa taking over should Augustus die before the young men were old enough. Agrippa now had almost as much power as Augustus without all the titles. As a result of this prominence in political affairs, two out of the three moneyers for the year 13 included Agrippa on their coins – with moneyer C. Sulpicius Platorinus focused entirely on Agrippa. Figures 5 and 6 show examples of this. Figure 5 has Augustus on the obverse and M. Agrippa on the reverse with the word VIRTUS (courage) in the legend. This coin is a little rare and comes with a hefty price tag.

Figure 5: Augustus, with Agrippa, 27 B.C.-14 A.D., AR Denarius. Rome mint. C. Sulpi- cius Platorinus, moneyer. Struck 13 BC. CAESAR AVGVSTVS, Bare head of Augustus right / M. AGRIPPA PLATORINVS. III. VIR, bare head of Agrippa right, 3.72 g., RIC I 408. (Triton XXIII, Lot: 564, $30,000, 1/14/20).
Figure 5: Augustus, with Agrippa, 27 B.C.-14 A.D., AR Denarius. Rome mint. C. Sulpi- cius Platorinus, moneyer. Struck 13 BC. CAESAR AVGVSTVS, Bare head of Augustus right / M. AGRIPPA PLATORINVS. III. VIR, bare head of Agrippa right, 3.72 g., RIC I 408. (Triton XXIII, Lot: 564, $30,000, 1/14/20).

Figure 6 again has Augustus on the obverse, and the reverse shows Augustus and Agrippa bare-headed wearing togas and seated on a bisellium (a double throne), placed on a platform with three rostra. This clearly indicates that Agrippa had been elevated to a role similar to the emperor and that he was intended to be the heir to the throne. This coin was also moneyed by Platorinus. Like the previous coin, it is somewhat rare and expensive.

Figure 6: Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius. Rome mint, C. Sulpicius Platorinus, moneyer. Struck 13 BC. AVGVSTVS CAESAR, bare head right / C • SVLFIVI PLATO- RIN, Augustus and Agrippa, bare headed and togated, seated side by side, facing slight left, on a bisellium, placed on a platform which is ornamented with three rostra: on left. staff or spear, 19mm, 3.78g., RIC 407. (CNG 109, Lot: 597, $7500, 3/2/05).
Figure 6: Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius. Rome mint, C. Sulpicius Platorinus, moneyer. Struck 13 BC. AVGVSTVS CAESAR, bare head right / C • SVLFIVI PLATO- RIN, Augustus and Agrippa, bare headed and togated, seated side by side, facing slight left, on a bisellium, placed on a platform which is ornamented with three rostra: on left. staff or spear, 19mm, 3.78g., RIC 407. (CNG 109, Lot: 597, $7500, 3/2/05).

In 12 BCE, while attending the festival of the Quinquatria in Campania, Agrippa became ill and died. After a state funeral, Agrippa’s ashes were placed in the Mausoleum of Augustus. Agrippa Postumus was born to Julia soon after. Figure 7 has a reverse showing Augustus crowning a statue of Agrippa with a star. The star is usually associated with divinity (like Julius Caesar) but can be used for renowned dead. Lentulus’ title of Flamen Martialis seems to associate the statue with Mars and may have been in the temple of Mars Ultor.

Figure 7: Augustus, 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius. Rome mint: L. Lentulus. moneyer. Struck 12 BC. AVGVSTVS. Bare head right / L • LENIVLVS • FLAMEN MARTIALIS, statue of Agrippa(?) on left, holding Victory in right hand and spear in left, being crowned with star by Augustus standing facing to right, holding in left hand around shield inscribed C • V set on ground, 3.06 g., RIC 1 415. (Triton XVII, Lot: 635, #3500, 1/6/14).
Figure 7: Augustus, 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius. Rome mint: L. Lentulus. moneyer. Struck 12 BC. AVGVSTVS. Bare head right / L • LENIVLVS • FLAMEN MARTIALIS, statue of Agrippa(?) on left, holding Victory in right hand and spear in left, being crowned with star by Augustus standing facing to right, holding in left hand around shield inscribed C • V set on ground, 3.06 g., RIC 1 415. (Triton XVII, Lot: 635, #3500, 1/6/14).

Figure 8 shows a reverse with an equestrian statue of Agrippa with the legend saying “Lentulus, son of Cornelius,” as the coin’s moneyer.

Figure 8: Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius. Rome mint. Cossus Cornelius Lentu- lus, moneyer. Struck 12 BC. AVGVSTVS, bare head right / COSSVS CN • F•LEN1VLVS, equestrian statue right of Agrippa, helmeted, bearing trophy over left shoulder, on pedestal, ornamented with two prows, 3.97 g., RIC I 412. (Triton XI, Lot: 825, $2400, 1/7/08).
Figure 8: Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius. Rome mint. Cossus Cornelius Lentu- lus, moneyer. Struck 12 BC. AVGVSTVS, bare head right / COSSVS CN • F•LEN1VLVS, equestrian statue right of Agrippa, helmeted, bearing trophy over left shoulder, on pedestal, ornamented with two prows, 3.97 g., RIC I 412. (Triton XI, Lot: 825, $2400, 1/7/08).

The coin in Figure 9 is a little more difficult to understand. The obverse is a very young head of Augustus (the oak wreath is his signature), and the reverse has a candelabrum. The young Augustus portrait may have been a result of the coin not being minted at a regular imperial mint, so a generic portrait was used. The candelabrum reverse is not only religious but funeral, referring to Agrippa’s death. It has been proposed that this issue was struck in Pannonia to pay the now leaderless, and perhaps restless, Pannonian legions, without having to wait for a military mint issue.

Figure 9: Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius. Uncertain eastern mint. Struck circa 12 BC. Youthful, bare head right; all within oak wreath CA-ES-AR / Candelabrum ornamented with rams’ heads; all within a floral wreath entwined with two bucrania and three pateras AVG-VSTI, 19mm, 3.84 g., RIC 1 540. (CNG 12, Lot: 781, $3250, 10/7/22).
Figure 9: Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius. Uncertain eastern mint. Struck circa 12 BC. Youthful, bare head right; all within oak wreath CA-ES-AR / Candelabrum ornamented with rams’ heads; all within a floral wreath entwined with two bucrania and three pateras AVG-VSTI, 19mm, 3.84 g., RIC 1 540. (CNG 12, Lot: 781, $3250, 10/7/22).

I have only covered Agrippa’s imperial coins, but there were many local pieces struck with his portrait on them. He traveled all over the Roman Empire and did a lot of good works for the cities he visited. For example, Cnossus in Crete, Sparta, Corinth, Bithynia, and Nicopolis (Epirus), to name just a few, issued coins with his portrait. The kings of Bosporus issued a gold stater with his head on the reverse.

But there is one coin I have to include because it is so neat and famous.

Figure 10 shows a bronze AE As minted in Nemausus, Gaul (modern Nîmes). The obverse has the heads of Augustus and Agrippa facing in opposite directions. The reverse has a crocodile chained to a palm frond. It is believed the crocodile refers to the subjugation of Egypt by Augustus in 30, and the design may have been initiated by one or more legions sent to the area after participating in the campaign. Augustus created a mint in Nemausus and helped make the city very prosperous. Today there is a sculpture of the crocodile in the city center. This coin was struck in large quantities and can be found in many sales at a reasonable price (I have one).

Figure 10; Augustus, with Agrippa, GAUL, Nemausus, 27 BC-AD 14. AE As. Struck circa AD 10-14. Heads of Agrippa, wearing combined rostral crown and laurel wreath, and Augustus, laureate, back-to-back, IMP P-P DIVI F / COL NEM across field, croco- dile right, chained to palm frond: at top, wreath with long ties; two palm fronds at base, 26mm, 12.89 g., RIC I 159. (CNG 114, Lot: 498, $2750, 5/13/20).
Figure 10; Augustus, with Agrippa, GAUL, Nemausus, 27 BC-AD 14. AE As. Struck circa AD 10-14. Heads of Agrippa, wearing combined rostral crown and laurel wreath, and Augustus, laureate, back-to-back, IMP P-P DIVI F / COL NEM across field, croco- dile right, chained to palm frond: at top, wreath with long ties; two palm fronds at base, 26mm, 12.89 g., RIC I 159. (CNG 114, Lot: 498, $2750, 5/13/20).

The last coin I need to cover is the most common.

Figure 11 shows an AE as minted by Caligula (37 to 41 CE), Agrippa’s grandson. It has Agrippa facing left on the obverse of the coin, and Neptune standing facing left holding a small dolphin on the reverse. The obverse legend says, “M. Agrippa, son of Lucius, Consul three times.” Neptune on the reverse refers to Agrippa’s victories at Actium and against S. Pompeius. This coin was also minted by the Flavian emperors Titus and Domitian. The former has IMP T VESP AVG REST on the reverse and the later has IMP D AVG REST, the “REST” saying that it is a restored coin. The Caligula type was issued in large quantities and is readily available at a reasonable price. Later versions are not as common.

Figure 11: Agrippa. Died 12 BC. AE AS. Rome mint. Struck under Gaius (Caligula) AD 37-41. Head wearing rostral crown M AGRIPPA L F COS III / Neptune standing left holding small dolphin and trident, SC, 28mm, 10.82 g., RIC 1 58 (Gaius). (CNG 475, Lot; 350, $900, 9/9/20).
Figure 11: Agrippa. Died 12 BC. AE AS. Rome mint. Struck under Gaius (Caligula) AD 37-41. Head wearing rostral crown M AGRIPPA L F COS III / Neptune standing left holding small dolphin and trident, SC, 28mm, 10.82 g., RIC 1 58 (Gaius). (CNG 475, Lot; 350, $900, 9/9/20).

From second-century CE Roman historian Cassius Dio:

Agrippa … had in every clearly shown himself the noblest of the men of this day and had used the friendship of Augustus with a view to the greatest advantage both of the emperor himself and of the Commonwealth.

From former Harvard classics professor Glen Bowersock (Encyclopedia Britannica):

Agrippa deserved the honours Augustus heaped upon him. It is conceivable that without Agrippa, Octavian would never have become emperor. Rome would remember Agrippa for his generosity in attending to aqueducts, sewers, and baths.

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References

Classical Numismatic Group (CNG)

Hornblower, Simon, and Antony Spawforth, ed. The Oxford Classical Dictionary, 3rd edition. Oxford (1996)

Madden, F.; Smith, C.R.; and S.W. Stevenson. A Dictionary of Roman Coins. London (1889)

Powell, Lindsay. Marcus Agrippa Right-hand Man of Caesar Augustus. Pen and Sword Military: Yorkshire (2015)

Sear, David. Roman Coins and Their Values, Vol I. Spink (2000)

Sutherland, C.H.V., and R.A.G. Carson. The Roman Imperial Coinage, Vol I. Spink and Son: London (1984)

Vagi, David. Coinage and History of the Roman Empire (2 volumes). Coin World (1999)

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Coinage of the Dorian Cities of Halikarnassos and Knidos

The coins of Halikarnassos.

By Dr. Steve Benner for CoinWeek …..
This is the second article (Part I here) in a two-part series on the six cities of the Hexapolis located in Doris, a small region on the southwest coast of Asia Minor (see Figure 1) that later became part of Caria. The region was settled by the Dorians at the end of the Bronze Age (3300-1200 BCE) and was probably part of the Sea Peoples’ invasions of Greece and the Middle East. Ancient Greeks, such as the Spartans, believed this area was the home of the original Dorian invaders of the Peloponnese that proliferated the Doric dialect.

Established after 1100 BCE (all dates are BCE unless otherwise noted), the Dorian Hexapolis was a federation of six cites: Kos on the island of the same name; Knidos on the Triopian promontory (Datca peninsula); Halikarnassos on the mainland; and Lindos, Ialysos, and Kamiros on the island of Rhodes. This article covers Knidos and Halikarnassos since the first part covered those of Rhodes and Kos, a large and wealthy city with a rich history, would require an article unto itself.

The Hexapolis became prosperous around 700, and the cities were known for their seamanship. They would celebrate a festival with games near Knidos in honor of the Triopian Apollo. The prize of the games was a brass tripod that was to be dedicated to the Temple of Apollo. Halikarnassos was later expelled from the federation after a certain Agasicles improperly handled the tripod after winning it, thus turning the hexapolis into a pentapolis. The federation was dissolved around 560.

Map of the Aegean Sea and its surrounding cities, circa 7th-5th centuries BCE.
Map of the Aegean Sea and its surrounding cities, circa 7th-5th centuries BCE.

Coins of Halikarnassos

Halikarnassos was established on the site of a Mycenean (1700-1100) settlement and over 40 Mycenean beehive tombs (tholoi) are located near the city. It was founded by Dorians (probably from Troezen and Argos) around 900 on the Gulf of Kerme (see Figure 1). Anthes, a son of Poseidon, was considered its founder. When Cyrus the Great conquered Caria in 545, the city did not resist, and Cyrus placed a satrap in charge of the city. Unlike its Ionian neighbors, Halikarnassos did not rise against Persia during the Ionian Revolt (499-493) and thus did not suffer the consequences. In 520, the city’s satrap was Lygdamis, who established the Lygdamid dynasty. Lygdamis’ daughter was Artemisia I, who was put in charge of some of Xerxes’ forces during his losing effort to conquer Greece in 480.

After Lygdamis II, Artemisia’s grandson, died in 450, Halikarnassos joined the Delian League and remained a member until the end of the Peloponnesian War (404), when the League was disbanded. In 395, the city returned to Persian rule, and a new satrap named Hecatomnos was appointed to rule. When Hecatomnus died, he was succeeded by Mausolus (reigned 377-353) with his sister/wife Artemisia II. Upon his death, Artemisia commissioned the building of the Mausoleum (her husband’s name was the origin of the word) as a tomb for her husband. Completed only by 350, after both Mausolus’ and Artemisia’s deaths, this beautiful building became one of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World”.

On his way to conquer Persia, Alexander the Great arrived at the city in 334 and laid siege. It was taken with some difficulty and was extensively burned, never regaining its former glory. Halikarnassos was fought over by Alexander’s successors, except for a short period when it came under Rhodian rule in the second century BCE. After the death of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra VII in 30, the city was incorporated into the Roman Republic. The “Father of History”, Herodotus, was born in Halikarnassos (484) during Lygdamid rule but had to flee the city in 454, due to his connection with an uprising. The city had a theater (that is being restored), an agora, temples to Hermes and Ares, and city walls. Also nearby was a sanctuary of Apollo.

One of my sources says that Halikarnassos began to mint electrum staters and fractions around 600, but I could not find any corroboration in other sources. Therefore, ignoring the electrum coins, Halikarnassos began minting silver coins around the end of the fifth century. It appears that the first coins had either the head of Ketos (a sea monster) or its entire body with scales, forked tail, and sail on the obverse with both having a geometric pattern on the reverse. The former are hektes (2.09 grams) struck to the Milesian standard, and the latter are half staters struck to the Aeginetic standard (Figure 2). These coins are crudely done and don’t seem up to the standard of a major Greek city. Their minting was discontinued around 480.

Figure 2: Halikarnassos, CARIA. AR Half Stater. Aeginetic standard. Circa 510-480 BC. Ketos with scaled body, forked tall and dorsal sail to right / Geometric pattern In star format, grain ear to right and uncertain legend (AGI...NOS?) around; all within shallow incuse circle, 19mm, 5.94 g., Ct. Kritt, Kindya, pl. 47, 4. (Roma Numismatics 15, Lot: 259, $2000, 4/9/19).
Figure 2: Halikarnassos, CARIA. AR Half Stater. Aeginetic standard. Circa 510-480 BC. Ketos with scaled body, forked tall and dorsal sail to right / Geometric pattern In star format, grain ear to right and uncertain legend (AGI…NOS?) around; all within shallow incuse circle, 19mm, 5.94 g., Ct. Kritt, Kindya, pl. 47, 4. (Roma Numismatics 15, Lot: 259, $2000, 4/9/19).

At about the same time, small silver fractions were struck, some with the forepart of the winged horse Pegasos on the obverse and the forepart of a goat on the reverse (Figure 3). The city ethnic of ALI is on the reverse. The early versions of this coin type were as crude as the Ketos type, though they quickly improved in quality and artistry. Other small fractions had a ram’s head obverse and either Apollo’s head, a young female’s head, or a lion’s head reverse. These continued to be minted well into the fourth century.

Figure 3: Halikarnassos, CARIA. Obol (5th century BC). Obv: Forepart of Pegasos right. Rev: AN - I. Forepart of goat right within incuse circle, ALI , 9mm, 0.71 g., SNG Kayan I 757-8 var., (Numismatik Naumann 52, lot 191, $100, 7/2/17).
Figure 3: Halikarnassos, CARIA. Obol (5th century BC). Obv: Forepart of Pegasos right. Rev: AN – I. Forepart of goat right within incuse circle, ALI , 9mm, 0.71 g., SNG Kayan I 757-8 var., (Numismatik Naumann 52, lot 191, $100, 7/2/17).

There was no change to the coinage until the beginning of the fourth century when Halikarnassos began minting very attractive tetradrachms, drachms, and hemidrachms with Apollo facing slightly right on the obverse and an eagle spreading its wings in an incuse square on the reverse (Figure 4). The city’s/people’s name of AΛIKAPNAΣΣEΩN is shown around the eagle. This coin is probably based on civic and Rhodian coinage and is in marked contrast to earlier coins, which were not artistically appealing. The city must have hired gifted celators (artisans who engraved coin dies) or had them minted elsewhere. The city’s first bronze coins started to be minted at this time.

Figure 4: Halikarnassos, CARIA. Circa 400-387 BC. AR Tetradrachm. Head of Apollo, wearing laurel wreath, facing slightly right / Eagle standing half-right, wings spread; AΛIKAPNAΣΣ-EΩN around, star to right; all within incuse square, 21.5mm, 15.19 g., HN Online 637.2 (this coin). (Triton XXIII, Lot: 427, $95,000, 1/14/20).
Figure 4: Halikarnassos, CARIA. Circa 400-387 BC. AR Tetradrachm. Head of Apollo, wearing laurel wreath, facing slightly right / Eagle standing half-right, wings spread; AΛIKAPNAΣΣ-EΩN around, star to right; all within incuse square, 21.5mm, 15.19 g., HN Online 637.2 (this coin). (Triton XXIII, Lot: 427, $95,000, 1/14/20).

In the fourth century, the satraps of Caria, including Mausolos, Hidrieus, Pixodaros, and Orontobates, began minting tetradrachms and didrachms similar to the type shown in Figure 4. The difference is that these coins had Zeus Labraundos standing right holding a staff on the reverse instead of the eagle (Figure 5). The name of the satrap is also on the reverse. They are of the same high quality as the previous coin. The didrachms are fairly common, but the tetradrachms are rare, with only a handful known. In addition to the silver coins, the satraps also minted gold staters. Two of the known examples are a hemistater (4.25 grams) with Apollo’s head facing right and the same reverse as Figure 5 and a 1/24 stater (0.34 grams) with Apollo facing left obverse and a labrys (double-bladed axe) reverse.

Figure 5: Halikarnassos, CARIA. Pixodaros. Circa 341/0-336/5 BC. AR Tetradrachm. Halikarnassos mint. Struck circa 341/0 BC. Head of Apollo facing slightly right, wearing laurel wreath, drapery at neck / Zeus Labraundos standing right; ΠIΞOΔAPOY to right, 24mm, 15.25 g., Pixodaros 7–8 (unlisted dies) (this coin). (Triton XXIV, Lot: 717, $90,000, 1/20/21).
Figure 5: Halikarnassos, CARIA. Pixodaros. Circa 341/0-336/5 BC. AR Tetradrachm. Halikarnassos mint. Struck circa 341/0 BC. Head of Apollo facing slightly right, wearing laurel wreath, drapery at neck / Zeus Labraundos standing right; ΠIΞOΔAPOY to right, 24mm, 15.25 g., Pixodaros 7–8 (unlisted dies) (this coin). (Triton XXIV, Lot: 717, $90,000, 1/20/21).

Alexander’s siege ended the dynasts of Caria, and the city retained the right to mint bronze coins. There was a large variety of types, some of which were based on the silver coin types. Very few coins were struck until the second century when Halikarnassos came under Rhodian control (c. 188-166). Then the city produced silver drachms of 4.21 grams, as well as some fractions like the hemidrachm and trihemiobol. Examples of the types were Helios facing forward/bust of Athena; the head of Apollo/lyre; and the bust of Athena/owl. Figure 6 shows an example of the hemidrachm.

The silver coins and bronze coins continued to be produced until the middle of the first century.

Figure 6: Halikarnassos, CARIA Circa 2nd - 1st Century BC. AR Hemidrachm. Laureate head of Apollo right / Lyre, AΛIKAPNAΣΣEΩN, 2.40 g., SNG von Aulock 2528; SNG Helsinki 44. (CNG 61, Lot: 739, $220 , 9/25/02).
Figure 6: Halikarnassos, CARIA Circa 2nd – 1st Century BC. AR Hemidrachm. Laureate head of Apollo right / Lyre, AΛIKAPNAΣΣEΩN, 2.40 g., SNG von Aulock 2528; SNG Helsinki 44. (CNG 61, Lot: 739, $220 , 9/25/02).

Coins of Knidos

Knidos was located on the coast of Caria opposite the islands of Nisyros and Telos. It was built partially on the island of Triopion and connected to the mainland by a causeway, which formed two harbors, one military and one commercial. The island was settled by Spartans in the first millennium and later by Argives (people from Argos), and the city was built on a series of terraces rising to an acropolis. The Temple of Apollo near Knidos was the site of the Dorian Games. Also, temples to Poseidon, Artemis Hyakinthotropos (the patron goddess), and Aphrodite Euploia were located there. The later deity was likely inherited from the Phoenicians and was much older than the others, with the goddess appearing on most of the city’s coinage.

Knidos also had a council chamber, a stadium, a theater, and a portico. It produced wine, onions, medicinal oils, and reeds for pens, and accumulated enough wealth to colonize the island of Lipara (north of Sicily) and the city of Kokyra Nigra (in the Adriatic Sea). It submitted to Persia after 546, joined the Delian League after 479, and revolted against the League in 412. The city’s oligarchy was replaced by a democracy in the fourth century, but after Alexander the Great’s death Knidos came under Ptolemaic control. It was under Ptolemaic rule that the architect Sostratus of Knidos designed and completed the Lighthouse at Alexandria. The city came under Rhodian control in the early second century, and then under Roman control around 129.

Most of the coinage of Knidos has the head of a roaring lion on the obverse and the head of Aphrodite on the reverse (see Figure 7). The minting of drachms of about six grams (Aeginetic standard) began about 520 BCE, with the head of Aphrodite appearing archaic. Later into the fifth century, the head became more classical, and the city ethnic K-N-I was added to the reverse. The silver fractions, such as diobols, obols, etc., were first minted in the fourth century and used the same classical style.

Figure 7: Knidos, CARIA. Circa 500-490 BC. AR Drachm. Head of lion roaring right / Head of archaic Aphrodite right, wearing stephanos and with hair in sakkos within incuse square, 16.5mm, 6.13 g., SNG Copenhagen 202. (CNG 102, Lot: 510, $1200, 5/18/16).
Figure 7: Knidos, CARIA. Circa 500-490 BC. AR Drachm. Head of lion roaring right / Head of archaic Aphrodite right, wearing stephanos and with hair in sakkos within incuse square, 16.5mm, 6.13 g., SNG Copenhagen 202. (CNG 102, Lot: 510, $1200, 5/18/16).

Around 400, Knidos adopted the Rhodian standard of 3.9 grams per drachm. Between 394 and 390, Knidos was a member of a Federation with the cities of Iasos, Rhodes, Samos, Ephesos, and Byzantion and minted tridrachms of 10.9 grams to match the group. Figure 8 shows Knidos’ federal coinage, which has an obverse of baby Herakles killing two snakes and a reverse of Aphrodite facing right. The obverse has the legend SUN (“Federation”) and the reverse has the city ethnic KNIDIWN.

Figure 8: Knidos, Caria. 405-394 BC. AR Tridrachm O: SUN; the childlike Heracles strangles snakes. R: KNIDIWN, Aphrodite's head with earrings and necklace right, the hair in sphendone, prow below chin. Everything in square incuse, 10.7 g., Keckmann 164. (Roma Numismatics 13, Lot: 334, $9800, 3/23/17).
Figure 8: Knidos, Caria. 405-394 BC. AR Tridrachm O: SUN; the childlike Heracles strangles snakes. R: KNIDIWN, Aphrodite’s head with earrings and necklace right, the hair in sphendone, prow below chin. Everything in square incuse, 10.7 g., Keckmann 164. (Roma Numismatics 13, Lot: 334, $9800, 3/23/17).

In about 390, the city began minting very beautiful tetradrachms (15 grams), didrachms, drachms, and hemidrachms with Aphrodite on the obverse and the head of a lion on the reverse (see Figure 9). A magistrate’s name could appear on the reverse along with the ethnic KNI. This type was continued into the third century. A hemidrachm was also produced that had Aphrodite on the obverse and a bull’s head facing on the reverse. In the mid-third century, the tetrobols and hemidrachms were changed to have Artemis on the obverse and a tripod on the reverse (see Figure 10).

Figure 9: Knidos, CARIA. Circa 350-330/20 BC. AR Tetradrachm. Theumelon, magistrate. Head of Aphrodite right, hair tied at back, wearing stephanos, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; behind neck, Phrygian helmet right / Forepart of lion right; ΘEYMEΛΩN to upper right, KNI below, 27.5mm, 15.00 g. Ashton, Late 14 (A8/P14). (CNG 105, Lot: 371, $16,000, 5/10/17).
Figure 9: Knidos, CARIA. Circa 350-330/20 BC. AR Tetradrachm. Theumelon, magistrate. Head of Aphrodite right, hair tied at back, wearing stephanos, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; behind neck, Phrygian helmet right / Forepart of lion right; ΘEYMEΛΩN to upper right, KNI below, 27.5mm, 15.00 g. Ashton, Late 14 (A8/P14). (CNG 105, Lot: 371, $16,000, 5/10/17).
Figure 10: Knidos, Caria. Circa 250-210 BC. AR Tetrobol(?). Aristokleid(es), magistrate. Head of Artemis right, quiver behind / Tripod; ΑΡΙΣΤΟΚΛΕΙΔ to left, KNIDION to right14mm, 2.51 g. SNG Copenhagen 27. (CNG 384, Lot: 267, $105, 10/12/16).
Figure 10: Knidos, Caria. Circa 250-210 BC. AR Tetrobol(?). Aristokleid(es), magistrate. Head of Artemis right, quiver behind / Tripod; ΑΡΙΣΤΟΚΛΕΙΔ to left, KNIDION to right14mm, 2.51 g. SNG Copenhagen 27. (CNG 384, Lot: 267, $105, 10/12/16).

In the latter part of the third century, Knidos produced a series of tetradrachms that reproduced the Alexander the Great type, with the head of Herakles on the obverse and Zeus seated on the reverse. The coins had a prow and EY on the reverse. Under Rhodian rule (210-185), the city minted didrachms with the head of Rhodian Helios facing three-quarters on the obverse and a reverse with the forepart of a lion with either a rose, an ear of grain, a star, a cap, a club, or a bug, etc. The city name, KNIΔION, is above and a magistrate’s name is below the lion.

The silver coinage ended about the time the city came under Roman control in the latter third of the second century. Knidos also minted bronze coins starting in the third century, and these include many types, regrettably too many to cover here.

Figure 11: Knidos, Caria. Circa 210-185 BC. AR Didrachm. Philinos, magistrate. Head of Helios facing slightly right / Forepart of roaring lion right, KNIΔION above; grain ear to left, ΦIΛINOΣ below, 19mm, 5.27 g., Nordbø Series 13, (CNG 114, Lot: 352, $2750, 5/13/20).
Figure 11: Knidos, Caria. Circa 210-185 BC. AR Didrachm. Philinos, magistrate. Head of Helios facing slightly right / Forepart of roaring lion right, KNIΔION above; grain ear to left, ΦIΛINOΣ below, 19mm, 5.27 g., Nordbø Series 13, (CNG 114, Lot: 352, $2750, 5/13/20).

Comments

There are many coins in this article that are very rare, beautiful, and expensive, especially the multi-drachm coins (Figures 4, 5, 9, and 11) and some drachms (Figure 8). But for collectors of more modest means, most of the smaller silver fraction can be obtained at reasonable prices. The early Ketos silver coins of Halikarnassos are crude but intriguing because there aren’t many sea monsters on Greek coins (or any coins). I believe they warrant more careful study. Even though I did not cover them, there is a wide variety of inexpensive bronze coins from both these cities.

* * *

Reference

Acsearch.info

Classical Numismatic Group (CNG)

Grant, Michael. A Guide to the Ancient World: A Dictionary of Classical Place Names. Barnes and Noble (1986)

Head, Barclay V. Historia Numorum: A Manual of Greek Numismatics. Oxford (1887)

Hoover, Oliver. Handbook of Coins of the Islands, Vol 6. Lancaster/London: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. (2010)

Hornblower, Simon, and Antony Spawforth, ed. The Oxford Classical Dictionary, 3rd edition. Oxford (1996)

Sear, David. Greek Coins and Their Values, Vol 2: Asia. B.A. Seaby Ltd. (1979)

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