c.339-318 BCE
Æ 17mm 2,45g
shield of Ajax, Nymphe Salamis
SNG Munich 465
The island of Salamis will be forever known for the Battle of Salamis, a tremendous naval battle that pitted the combined forces of the Greeks against the Persians under Xerxes. It was a tremendous victory for the Greeks and directly resulted in Xerxes’ retreat from Greece. He left a general to finish the work, but he was defeated the next year at the Battle of Plataea.
Salamis was the home of the great hero Ajax, who was one of the major participants in the Trojan War and once faced off directly with Hector twice. Recently, a Mycenaean palace was discovered on Salamis that dates to roughly the time of the Trojan War and could theoretically have been Ajax’s.
The famous playwright Euripides was also born on Salamis.
Interestingly, although listed in Attica, this coin displays a shield that appears Boeotian. This is likely due to Boeotian influence as the island wasn’t always under full control of Athens.
Today, the island is the home of the Greek navy.
circa 350-318 BCE
Æ 15 mm, 1,94 g
Head of nymph Salamis right, wearing stephane /
Shield of Ajax, on which [sword in sheath], [ΣA]-ΛA across fields
BMC 1, 2; SNG Copenhagen 455; Kroll-Walker 214, 640
Faced with the Persian invasion, the Greeks ask Korkyra for aid. They supply 80 ships, but they don’t arrive in time for the Battle of Salamis. Many Greeks believe this was deliberate.
Melos refuses to submit to the Persians and instead provide two triremes to the Greeks that participate in the Battle of Salamis.
September 26
Aegina plays a significant role in the Greek naval victory against the Persian Empire in the Battle of Salamis. Byblos, Arados, Tyre, Halikarnassos under Artemisia, Kos, and Sidon support Darius. Chalkis and Kythnos support the Greek effort. Alexander I serves as a peace negotiator on behalf of the Persians.
Salamis surrenders to Kassander.
Aratos restores Salamis to Athens.