Conveners
S14. GREECE 14. CRETE
- Andrew Meadows (New College, Oxford)
This paper outlines, by examining Cretan coin hoards, coin circulation patterns on the island over the centuries, highlighting connections between the major Cretan cities minting coins, and drawing attention to significant variations in terms of quantities and metals over time. The presence of foreign coins in hoards affords insight into the relationship between Cretan cities and other...
The resumption of systematic excavations on Lyttos (/Lytos/Lyktos) prompts us to examine the character and monetary behaviour of one of the four most prominent Cretan cities, lying in Central Crete. The importance of this rival of Knossos, Phaestos and Gortys, eventually controlling a safe natural port (Chersonesos), is reflected by its minting activity starting from the mid-5th c. BC through...
Cretan coinage presents some special features, such as its own weight standard, the frequent practice of overstriking and countermarking of local and foreign coins, and a limited circulation outside the island. In the late 4th and 3rd century gold coins were issued intermittently by a limited number of mints. Apart from the gold issues of Kydonia with Aeginetan types, as well as those of...
The present article is a summary of the author’s post-Doc study now in progress its aim to develop a numismatic Corpus for ancient Aptera, one of the most prosperous towns in Western Crete. Aptera has been characterized as an “emerging” ancient town, because of its impressive ruins that have come to light. Its prolific numismatic output attests its remarkable economic growth (mainly starting...
