Ancient Coin Stories

In ancient numismatics, Akanthos is today famous for its lion attacking bull silver coinage that often fetch handsome prices at auction. This is not one of those coins, primarily because I can’t afford them. However, it’s an authentic ancient from Akanthos all the same.

Thukydides gives credit for settling Akanthos to settlers from Andros, who were themselves settled by Chalkis. Per legend, settlers from both cities had the same idea to colonize the area and both arrived around the same time. They each rushed to claim the city while the locals rushed away, and Andros received credit in a court case over the matter.

Later on, Akanthos came into conflict with the growing Chalkidian League, headquartered at Olynthos. Akanthos at that time was a wealthy city, as made clear from its coinage, and had no desire to join. When the Chalkidian League threatened to use force, Akanthos turned to the Spartans, who intervened on their behallf and defeated the Chalkidians.

In 348 BCE, Akanthos was conquered by Philip II. However, since they’d shown animosity against their mutual enemy the Chalkidians, Philip didn’t destroy it. However, many of the inhabitants were later rolled into the fantastical city of Uranopolis, which was founded by Kassander’s wacky brother Alexarchos, who instituted his own language and religion there.

Akanthos was famous in ancient times for its wine and salt. The crickets were also famed for being voiceless, leading a famous ancient proverb ‘Akanthos tettix’. Tettix is the word for cricket, but I must admit I don’t get the joke.