The Koinon of Athena Ilias and its Coinage

Journal article

This article presents the first die study of the coinage of the koinon of Athena Ilias, the evidence for which has doubled since the series was last catalogued in Alfred Bellinger’s Troy: The Coins (1961). The new evidence confirms the longevity of the series (late 180s/early 170s–60s/50s bc) and suggests that the series was minted continually but at a low level of production throughout this period. It also provides an opportunity to revisit the question of the identity of the magistrate named on the reverse of the coins and the length of time they were in office, questions which have primarily been discussed in relation to the epigraphic evidence. It is argued that the purpose of the coinage was twofold: to provide the agonothetai who ran the festival with cash with which to make external payments and to act as a status symbol for the koinon’s festival. The early dating of the series proposed here contributes to our understanding of the development of the phenomenon of civic spread-flan coinages in the midsecond century, while the late end date combined with the results of the die study provide an opportunity to look at the impact of the Mithradatic Wars on the finances of the koinon’s cities.

Authors: Ellis Evans, A

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: American Numismatic Society
• Journal: American Journal of Numismatics
• Volume: 28
• Pages: 105–158
• Publication date: 2017-02-28
• Acceptance date: 2016-09-02
• ISSN: 1053-8356