Obolos 21

PHRYGIA. Apameia. Circa 88-40 BC. (Bronze, 18 mm, 4.70 g, 1 h), struck under the eglogistes Attalos, son of Bianor. Turreted head of Artemis-Tyche right, with bow and quiver at shoulder. Rev. AΠAMEΩN / ATTAΛOY BIANOPOΣ Marsyas advancing right atop maeander pattern, playing aulos. BMC 62. HGC 7, 674. Nicely centered and with a dark green patina. Light porosity, otherwise, very fine.

The eglogistai in Apameia were magistrates dealing with financial matters, possibly auditors. An explanation can be found in G. R. Tsetskhladze, A. Avram, J. Hargrave, eds., The Greeks and Romans in the Black Sea Region (Oxford, 2021):

In this B. Öztürk, "The coins found at the excavations of Amasya," writes "...other eglogistai are known from Apamean coins... The exact function of the eglogistai is not known, but they would probably have been in charge of financial matters in the city similar to moneyers or an accountant."

The term eglogistes also appears in other sources. A stele found at Salamis and now in the J. Paul Getty Museum in Malibu, California (SEG 31: 122), concerns the administration of a private association, the Herakliaston of Limnais, where, along with a number of other officials whose responsibilities are outlined, are mentioned elogistai, officials responsible for checking the accounts of the treasurer of the organization.