Das latènezeitliche Münzsystem im mittleren Europa. Teil 3: Metrologisch fundierte Chronologie keltischer Münzen der Spätlatènezeit Teil 4: Von der Emilia Romagna nach Böhmen und Süddeutschland - Münzen der Boier im Latène C 1

Abstract

Author continues his studies published in JNG 44, 1994, 35-77 and 45, 1995, 7-27. He deals with chronology and metrology of mainly South German celtic coinage, the development of types, further with questions of assignment, especially to the Boii/Celts of Southern Germany in Latene C. JOHANNES NOLLE AND ALOIS WENNINGER, Themistokles und Archepolis: Eine griechische Dynastie im Perserreich und ihre Münzprägung, p. 29 Historical study on the rule of Themistocles, the victor of Salamis, and his son Archepolis in Magnesia ad Maeandrum, catalogue of all coins known so far of this Themistocleid dynasty. GIACOMO MANGANARO, Zeus Eleutherios — Zeus Kronos. Himera — Therma nel IV sec. a.C., 71 The author first is alluding to Chr. Boehringer's study on the sources concerning Himera and Therma in the year 409 B.C. Further he is presenting a treatise on the last series of Himera's bronze coinage and then on the issues of Syracusan bronze. His special attention is directed towards the heavy denomination, showing Athena / star between two dolphins and its division with hippocampus-reverse, which form a group of two. One may conclude that the first piece is not a „heavy litra" (weighing 30-35 grams), but a multiple, a pentalitron („drachma"). This way Dionysius I made a profit, since a litra of this heavy weight would have meant a loss of wealth. This would not have made sense for the economy of a city permanently engaged in warfare and therefore compelled to economizing. Of the two issues showing the head of Zeus Eleutherius the lighter one (Zeus with short hair) is ascribed to Dion, the „liberator" from tyrannis. Directly afterward this issue was imitated by different other cities, even in Alontium and Alaisa, which lay in the Punic zone of power, this only being possible in the time after Dion's reign, when Carthage had become more lenient in its supervision. The reverse again was used in those imitations showing the legend symmachikon, which probably were struck in Alaisa. The other issue with the longhaired Zeus Eleutherius, the type of Zeus Olympius, is attributed to Timoleon (struck for the festival for the founding of the Amphipolia). Two issues of gold, showing a very similar head of Zeus too are attributed to Timoleon. These formed a supplementary amount to the reserve of „pegasoi", destined for the payment of mercenaries, concerning the battle of Krimisus in 339 B.C. These two bronze issues with the head of Zeus had to be counted the one as a dilitron, the other as a hemidrachmon. If they were a litra, we had the same fact as concerning large bronze of Dionysius: also these coins then would have meant an economic loss, which would be inexplicable. The two issues of small silver coinage from Himera with the head of (Zeus) Kronos, that are very similar to the above described issue showing Zeus Eleutherius, therefore also are attributed to Dion. Two other litra issues in silver, the one from Himera with the head of Heracles, the other one from Therma with the head of Hera, have to be dated into the years of Timoleon

Suggested citation

Hildebrandt, Hans Joachim: Das latènezeitliche Münzsystem im mittleren Europa. Teil 3: Metrologisch fundierte Chronologie keltischer Münzen der Spätlatènezeit Teil 4: Von der Emilia Romagna nach Böhmen und Süddeutschland - Münzen der Boier im Latène C 1. In: Jahrbuch für Numismatik und Geldgeschichte 48/49 (1998/99), pp. 7–28.