THE TYPES AND INSCRIPTIONS OF THE GREEK IMPERIAL COINAGE

The cities were granted the right to coin their own money by the emperor in Rome, so it is unsurprising that the obverses of most Greek Imperial coinage issues are occupied by an imperial effigy, with inscriptions giving the emperor’s name and titles. On coins of Greek and Hellenistic cities, the inscription is typically in Greek, while Latin is used on the issues of Roman colonies and municipia.

Imperial legends are loosely based on the forms used by the Rome mint for state coinage. For example, on Antiochene issues of Philip, we find the legend “AVTOK. Κ. Μ. ΙΟΥΛ. ФІΛΙΠПОС СЕВ.,” which closely resembles the Roman “IMP. M. IVL. PHILIPPVS AVG.” Each mint had its peculiarities, indicating that there was no strict supervision of imperial nomenclature on many local issues. Military titles like Germanicus, Britannicus, Dacicus, and Parthicus are less frequently found on local issues than on Roman state coinage, and references to contemporary wars are rare on Greek Imperial issues.

Emperors were sometimes depicted on the reverse of the coin, appearing on horseback or in other postures, as seen with Caligula (Amphipolis mint), Claudius (Mopsus), Trajan (Lydian Tripolis), and Marcus Aurelius (Hieropolis-Castabala). Such types are transitional between normal Greek Imperial issues and the ‘quasi-autonomous’ coins, which omit reference to the reigning emperor.

Below is a table of Greek imperial titles and their Latin equivalents for collectors.

Here is a chronological and structured version of the text based on historical sequences and thematic groupings:

Greek Imperial ‘Quasi-Autonomous’ Coins: An Overview

1. Introduction to ‘Quasi-Autonomous’ Issues

Greek Imperial issues known as ‘quasi-autonomous’ lack an imperial name or portrait, showcasing diverse obverse types.

These include heads of gods, goddesses, heroes, founders, and historical personalities like Alexander the Great and Pompey.

During Julio-Claudian times, provincial governors’ portraits appear, such as M. Tullius Cicero at Magnesia ad Sipylum and Annius Afrinus at Iconium.

2. Notable Regional Types

Olba, Cilicia: Produced remarkable types in the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius featuring the names and portraits of High Priests like Ajax and M. Antonius Polemo.

Chios: The Sphinx, an emblem of Chios, consistently appears as the obverse type on coins from this island mint.

3. Common Obverse Representations

The most common obverse types personify institutions such as:

The Roman Senate (CYNKAHTOC or ΙΕΡΑ ΣΥΝΚΛΗΤOC)

The local Senate (ΓΕΡΟΥΣΙΑ)

The local council (ΒΟΥΛΗ)

The People (AHMOс)

4. Reverse Imagery on Greek Imperial Coinage

Reverse types display a broad array of deities and local subjects, varying by region.

Noteworthy deities include:

Zeus: Frequently shown seated or standing, resting on a sceptre and holding an eagle, patera, or thunderbolt. Known by over seventy epithets based on worship locations.

Athena, Asklepios, Dionysos, Artemis, Cybele, Herakles, Apollo, Mên, Demeter, Nemesis, Hermes: Depicted with symbols representing their unique attributes and legends.

Egyptian Influence: Sarapis appears frequently, especially in eastern Mediterranean areas and Alexandria, though Isis, holding a sistrum, is less common.

5. Other Deities and Cultus-Statues

Additional deities on reverse types include Aphrodite, Poseidon, Hera, the Dioskuri, Helios, Selene, and the Three Graces.

Cultus-statues, like the Ephesian Artemis and the Samian Hera, also feature prominently in several city mints.

6. River-Gods and City-Goddesses

River-gods, depicted as reclining figures with reeds, cornucopiae, and water flowing from overturned urns, symbolize rivers important to community economies.

The City-goddess, frequently shown with a turreted mural crown, represents local cities, especially in southern Asia Minor and the Levant.

7. Allegorical Personifications

While less common on local issues, two major allegories—Nike (Victory) and Tyche (Fortune)—are frequently depicted.

Nike appears as a winged figure with a wreath or palm-branch, sometimes in a chariot.

Tyche, a standing female figure, holds a rudder and cornucopiae.

Other personifications like Dikaiosyne, Homonoia, Eirene, and Elpis occur predominantly in Alexandria.

8. Architectural Imagery on Reverse Types

Temples are a primary architectural motif, shown with columns (distyle to decastyle) and often housing deity statues or groups of statuary.

The common Greek forms of names of the principal emperors and empresses are listed below:

Augustus: ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ; ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ; ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΘΕΟΥ ΥΙΟΣ.

Livia: ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ; ΙΟΥΛΙΑ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ.

Tiberius: TIBEPIOC KAICAP; ΤΙ. ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ.

Caligula: ΓΑΙΟΣ; ΓΑΙΟΣ ΚΑΙCAP; ΓΑΙΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΟΣ.

Claudius: ΤΙ. ΚΛΑΥΔΙΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ; ΤΙΒΕΡΙΟΣ ΚΛΑΥΔΙΟΣ KAICAP.

ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΩΡ (usually abbreviated to AVT. or AVTOK.) IMPERATOR

ΚΑΙΣΑΡ, ΚΑICAP (K. or KAI.) = CAESAR

АУГОУСТОС (ΑΥΓ.) = AVGVSTVS

ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ. CEBACTOC (ΣΕΒ., CEB.) = AVGVSTVS

ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ, CEBACTH (ΣΕB., CEB.) AVGVSTA ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΟΣ, ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΟΣ (ΓΕΡΜ.) GERMANICVS

ΔΑΚΙΚΟΣ (ΔΑΚ.) = DACICVS ΠΑΡΘΙΚΟΣ (ΠΑΡΘ.) = PARTHICVS ARMENIACVS

APMENIAKOC (APM.)

CAPMATIKOC (CAP.) = SARMATICVS

ΒΡΙΤΑΝΝΙΚOC (BPIT.) = BRITANNICVS

ΔΗΜΑΡΧΙΚΗΣ ΕΞΟΥΣΙAC (ΔΗΜΑΡΧ. ΕΞ.) = TRIBVNICIA POTESTAS (TR. P.)

ΥΠΑΤΟΣ, ΥΠΑΤΟΣ Β, ΥΠАТОС Г, etc. = CONSVL (COS., COS. II, COS. III, etc.)

ΥΠΑΤΟΣ ΑΠΟΔΕΔΕΙΓΜENOC = CONSVL DESIGNATVS (COS. DES.)

ΘΕΟΥ YIOC (OE. YI.) = DIVI FILIVS (DIVI F.)

APICTOC (API.) = OPTIMVS

ΕΠΙΦΑΝΗΣ (ΕΠΙΦ.) – NOBILISSIMVS (NOВ.)

EYCEBHC (EYC.) = PIVS (P.)

ΕΥΤΥΧΗΣ (ΕYTY.) = FELIX (F.)

ΘΕΟΣ, ΘΕΟΣ, ΘΕ = DIVVS, DIVO

This section below continues a detailed analysis of Greek Imperial coinage, focusing on architectural depictions, nautical scenes, animals, historical figures, mythological elements, and silver coin issues.

Architectural Themes on Greek Imperial Coins

1. Temples and Sacred Sites

Depictions of temples appear frequently. Notable examples include:

Temple of Jupiter Heliopolitanus at Heliopolis (modern Baalbek near Beirut), featured on Heliopolis coinage.

Temple of Aphrodite at Paphos (Cyprus), depicted with a semi-circular court surrounded by a fence.

Temple at Zeugma, Syria, showing a tetrastyle temple with a sacred grove enclosed by a colonnade.

2. Other Structures

Beyond temples, a range of structures, from lighthouses to city gates, appear:

Pharos (Lighthouse) of Alexandria: A 300-foot-tall structure depicted on Egyptian coins.

Harbor at Caesarea Germanica: Shown with anchored ships, similar to a type for Side in Pamphylia.

Maeander River Bridge at Antiochia in Caria: Detailed with six arches, a monumental gateway, statues on the parapet, and turbulent river waters.

City-gates and fortifications: Nicaea shows an octagonal wall with gates and towers, while Amasia provides a bird’s-eye city view.

Triumphal arches: Examples from Alexandria (under Domitian and Trajan) and Pagae (under Septimius Severus).

Theatre of Dionysos at Athens: Displays the Akropolis, including the Parthenon and Propylaea, on Second Century coins.

Animal Imagery

1. Common and Symbolic Animals

Animals are rare, with specific uses reflecting local deities or themes:

Bull on Spanish issues for Augustus and Tiberius.

Horse on Third Century Alexandria Troas coins.

Stag and wild boar from Ephesus, representing Artemis.

Lion on coins from cities like Byzantium and Etenna.

2. Mythological Creatures

Pegasus: Frequently on Corinthian imperial coinage.

Griffin: Appears on quasi-autonomous types from Teos in Ionia.

Capricorn: Found at the Anazarbus mint in Cilicia.

Egyptian animals: Alexandria’s coins feature the bull Apis, crocodiles, and the ibis, linked to local deities.

Historical and Mythological Figures

1. Homeric References

Cities with ties to Homer often used his image, as on coins of Ios, Amastris, and Nicaea. Smyrna and Chios even depict his seated figure.

2. Trojan War Themes

Coins of Ilium and nearby Dardanus depict scenes like Hector’s triumph and Aeneas’s escape from Troy.

3. Greek Scholars and Philosophers

Pythagoras: Coins from Samos depict him with a globe and pointer.

Hipparchus: Shown at Nicaea, he observes celestial movements.

4. Astronomical and Zodiacal Types

Zodiac signs appear in Alexandria’s issues under Antoninus Pius, while Perinthus and Cyzicus feature Zeus in a Zodiac circle under Severus Alexander.

Silver Coinage and Denominations

1. Greek Imperial Silver Issues

While bronze dominated, some mints issued silver coins:

Nicopolis in Epirus: Issued hemidrachms under Antoninus Pius for the Actian Games.

Crete and Cyprus: Produced tridrachms and tetradrachms in the Julio-Claudian and Vespasian periods.

2. Denominational Parallels with Roman Coins

Spanish mints (e.g., under Augustus, Tiberius) issued asses and dupondii, aligning closely with Roman base-metal denominations.

Colonial mints like Philippi in Macedon and Patrae in the Peloponnese echoed Roman standards for bronze denominations.

This overview highlights the diversity of Greek Imperial coinage themes, where cities used imagery tied to local legends, architecture, historical achievements, and religious symbols to reinforce civic identity and heritage.