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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;robinjojo, post: 4515864, member: 110226&quot;]I think there was initial care in producing these coins, and the quality declined as the necessities of war and capital projects demanded greater output.</p><p><br /></p><p>These coins were trade coins.&nbsp; They were issued by Athens as a means to facilitate trade throughout her empire, and even beyond. As such, traders treated these coins as sliver ingots, stamped with the issuing authority of Athens, guaranteeing their weight and silver content.&nbsp; Of course this did not stop traders and local authorities from marking these coins with their own stamps, as fakes were widespread, and the numerous test cuts seen on many examples testify to a constant need to confirm a coin&#039;s integrity.&nbsp; As for stamping or cutting the obverse side, with Athena&#039;s profile showing, I imagine most merchants or local authorities wouldn&#039;t give it a second thought. Time and expediency were probably more important to most of them than considering whether of not to deface Athens&#039; patron goddess.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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