Even as the Athenians were minting their famed silver Owl tetradrachms and seeing them used for trade and payment throughout the Greek world and beyond, their great military and political rivals, the Spartans, were using iron bars as money... apparently, those funny old Spartans just didn't care very much for coins. That collectors now place any kind of premium on coins that were struck in latter day Lakedaimon (a name by which Sparta was also known), a time far removed from its golden age, might hence be a little ironic. The old Spartans, as famous for their dry, 'laconic' wit as their military prowess, would probably have had something succinct and impolite to say about it. My humble example of Spartan coinage was struck by Eurycles, a certain Spartan who was made hegemon by Augustus. His father had been executed by Mark Antony, and when Eurycles commanded a ship at the Battle of Actium in support of Octavian, it is said that he pursued a fleeing Antony more fervently than any others and drew close enough to yell taunts at him. Eurycles was subsequently rewarded with rule of Lakedaimon, which remained a free and autonomous city, its territories enlarged at the expense of cities that had not supported Octavian. Nevertheless, the glory days of Sparta were over. To the average Roman, Sparta was probably no more than a historical novelty. It was in fact something of a tourist attraction, its antique rites and ceremonies of centuries past revived and re-enacted for curious and perhaps appreciative foreign audiences, some of whom might have mused, "so this is Sparta..." LAKONIA, Lakedaimon (Sparta) AE As 5.7g, 20.3mm C. Julius Eurycles as hegemon, circa 31-7 BC RPC 1103; BMC 63 O: Head of Zeus right. R: Club; Λ-A/EΠI EY/PY-K(ΛE)/O-Σ in four lines across field; all within wreath.
I had been wondering recently if any of the iron "coins" of Sparta had survived. I know Herodotus mentions them, but they wouldn't have been in widespread use (due to them being Spartan...). I love the later Spartan example though!
Another fabulous find, Z! Also from the later and weaker years of Sparta, here's my only Lakedaimon coin. I showed it just a day or two ago but here it is again LACONIA, Lakedaimon (Sparta) 80-50 BCE AR triobol, 2.29 gm Obv: Head of Herakles right Rev: Amphora; to each side, caps of the Dioscuri; all within laurel wreath Ref: BCD Peloponnesos 868 A nicer overview of Spartan money through the ages: http://www.coinweek.com/featured-news/ancient-coins-sparta/
'Z' Love the post!! Terrific coin and WONDERFUL narrative...I could almost see and hear Eurycles as he pursued Anthony. Once again, TIF has a winner!!!
I made almost the exact same post recently: would love to capture an iron Sparta bar... @zumbly Great capture! And fantastic, succinct write-up! That is a great tidbit of history! Thank you.
what a cool and interesting coin Z, i wasn't familiar with that story. in case anyone doesn't know where sparta is...
The other option for a late Sparta coin is a silver hemidrachm of 196-146 BC when Lakedaimon was part of the Achaean League. Each member city had their own field letters and design. Sparta used the caps of the Dioscuri flanking the AX monogram for Achaean League. This one has the city monogram above but some of them have the two letters side by side making them easier to read and much more popular among collectors who was and LA on their coin.
Atta-boy, Mentor ... ummm, you've given me a possible-in to this cool thread ... Achaean League, Pallantion AR Tetrobol 1st Century BC Diameter: 15.1 mm Weight: 2.3 grams Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus Reverse: Monogram of the Achaian League References: BCD Peloponnesos 1593.2 Other: nicely toned Hey, and my High School teams were The Spartans!!
Spartan coins are difficult to locate. Mine is the same as that owned by Zumbly, so I don’t have much to add except a few more details for the reference (though I welcome the opportunity to post my coin) LACONIA, Lakedaimon (Sparta) 31-7 BC AE20 - 4.88 gm Ref: RPC 1103, BCD 921; Grunauer Group XXVI, Series 2; SNG Copenhagen 603; BMC Peloponnesus pg. 127, 63.
