ca. 248 – 243 BCE
Ae 15.0mm, 2.8gms
Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right
Rev: Zeus advancing right holding thunderbolt and filleted transverse scepter; torch behind
BCD 305, SNG Cop. 164
Corinth was among the most well-known and powerful cities of ancient Greece. Standing in the way between the Peloponnese and the rest of Greece, Corinth was always a major player. During the Peloponnesian War, they sided with Sparta against Athens, but as with most Greek cities their alliances changed over time.
In 337 BCE, Philip II created the League of Corinth to, in effect, marshal all of the Greek cities under his command. Each city had a number of delegates in proportion to its power. Decisions by the League included declaring war on Persia (which Alexander would later make use of) and agreeing to the destruction of Thebes.
The League meetings took place in Corinth (naturally) and Philip II was initially voted its head. The agreement stated that the hegemony would pass to his heirs, so after Philip’s murder the following year, Alexander took over. The League of Corinth was disbanded shortly after Alexander died.
The majority of Corinthian coins depict Pegasos. This was due to one of their first kings, Bellerophon, who per legend tamed it. Many of Corinth’s colonies also depict Pegasos.
circa 300 BCE
Æ 13mm, 1,93g
Pegasos flying r.
R/ Trident head downwards; K to l., ivy leaf (?) to r.
Cf. BCD Corinth 217ff
I had the opportunity to visit the ruins of Corinth during my trip to Greece. Here are several photos I took.
