Nomos 24

ARGOLIS. Epidauros. Circa 290s/280s-270s BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 16.5 mm, 2.60 g, 9 h). Laureate and bearded head of Asklepios to left. Rev. Monogram of EΠ within laurel wreath. BMC 1-2. Requier Series 1, D1-R1, 68 (this coin). Rare. Toned. Clear and attractive. Good very fine.

From the Maleatas Collection, acquired from Dr. Maly of Nomos in May 1989.


The early Hellenistic silver coinage of Epidauros has been ably studied by Requier in his article on the Epidaurus Hoard found in the late 1970s (= Coin Hoards VIII, 298); I would very much like to thank him here for his many insights and comments. What his work brings out is how very small this coinage was. In fact, prior to this hoard drachms and hemidrachms of Epidaurus were extremely rare, with many great collections lacking even a single piece (most of the BCD pieces come from this hoard, as have virtually all other pieces appearing on the market in the last 30 years); the number of dies involved is reminiscent of other small silver coinages. The pattern of wear in this hoard requires a few slight modifications of Requier’s arrangement. The coins that are most worn are the hemidrachms of Series 1 and 2 these are followed by the drachms of Series I; then come the hemidrachms of Series 3 and the drachms of Series II, which are, in turn, immediately followed by the hemidrachms of Series 4 and the drachms of Series III. Concerning chronology, the key point is that the weight standard was reduced shortly after both the Series II drachms and the Series 3 hemidrachms began to be produced, at which time they became Series III and 4 respectively. This also occurred at other mints in the Peloponnesos c. 250-240 (at nearby Argos full weight silver stopped being issued at this time and only began again in the 1st century; at Elis the weight was reduced and silver continued to be issued until the late 3rd century) and must surely have taken place at Epidauros around that time as well. Requier dated the hoard to c. 245 on the basis of two Ptolemaic tetradrachms, one dating to 252/1-250/49 and other to 253/2 and both somewhat worn. Perhaps this date ought to be slightly lowered to c. 240/235 to allow the Ptolemaic coins a little more time to attain the amount of wear they display. Thus, working backwards, we can probably date the Series III drachms and Series 4 hemidrachms to c. 250/245 and the Series II drachms and Series 3 hemidrachms to the late 250s. The Series I drachms are a problem since they are not only less worn than the Series 1 and 2 hemidrachms but their Asklepios heads are also quite different in style from them. The style is, in fact, closer to the Series 3-4 hemidrachms! This makes it likely that they were struck well after the Series 1 and 2 hemidrachms were minted; perhaps in the later 260s or early 250s. As for Series 1 and 2, perhaps a date of c. 290s/280s- 270s for Series 1 and 280s/270s-260s for Series 2 would be appropriate since this would allow enough time for the development of the considerable wear that some of these coins have, prior to their entrance into a hoard of c. 240/235.