Ancient coins are fascinating artifacts that tell us a lot about the history of past civilizations. One surprising fact is that most ancient coins do not have a date on them, unlike the coins we use today. For example, it’s common for modern coins to show the year they were minted. However, this practice did not appear on European coins until the 16th century. Instead, ancient cultures used a variety of systems to track time, and sometimes these systems appeared on their coins. Let’s take a look at some of the earliest examples of dated coins and how different cultures managed dates in ancient times.
| Coin | Culture | Date (BCE) | Mint Location | Key Features | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zankle Tetradrachm | Greek refugees | 491/490 BCE | Zankle (Messina, Sicily) | Lion head (obverse), Ship prow (reverse), “Year One” marked as Alpha | First known use of year dates on coins |
| Samos Tetradrachm | Greek (Samos) | 454-440 BCE | Samos | Bull head (reverse), Greek alphabetic numerals used for dates | Experiment with year dates during the 5th century BCE |
| Arsinoe II Octodrachm | Ptolemaic Egypt | 251/250 BCE | Ake-Ptolemais (Israel) | Portrait of Arsinoe II, Large gold coin (octodrachm) | Dated during the reign of Ptolemy II, posthumous coinage for Arsinoe II |
The First Coins with Dates: Zankle
In the ancient world, one of the first coins to feature a year date came from the Greek refugees of Samos, who had fled the Persian occupation of their homeland. In 494 BCE, they settled in Zankle, now known as Messina in Sicily. This group of people used an unusual method to mark time on their coins, calling it “Year One.” They did this by marking the coins with the Greek letter Alpha (Α), which represents the number 1 in the Greek numeral system.
Interestingly, coins from Years 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 have been found, but no coins from Year 3 have ever been discovered. These silver coins, known as Tetradrachms, featured a lion’s head on the front and a ship’s prow on the back. These coins were not just currency, but also a way for the refugees to show their new beginning in their new home. The coins are now valuable historical objects, and one example of a Year Four coin was found in the Asyut Hoard in Egypt in 1969.
Samos: A Second Experiment with Dating Coins
A few decades later, the people of Samos tried a similar experiment. Between 454 and 440 BCE, they produced silver Tetradrachms that also had dates marked using the Greek alphabet. Each coin showed a specific year of minting, and the date letter was placed on the reverse side of the coin, under the chin of a bull. These coins were an attempt to provide more precise dating on currency, helping people track time and events.
However, this practice was short-lived. In 439 BCE, the city of Samos was defeated by Athens, and this dating system on coins came to an end. Despite the system’s short run, some of these dated coins are still highly valuable today. For example, a Year 5 coin sold for $8,000 in an auction in 2021, making it a rare and prized find among collectors.
Arsinoe II and the Ptolemaic Coins
Another example of coins with dates comes from the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt. Arsinoe II, the wife and sister of Ptolemy II, is one of the most interesting figures in ancient Egyptian history. She was born in 316 BCE and became the Queen of Egypt after marrying her brother in 273 BCE. After her death, Arsinoe II was deified, meaning she was declared a goddess, and coins were struck in her name to honor her memory.
One of the most remarkable coins in this series is a massive gold Octodrachm minted in Ake-Ptolemais (modern Akko, Israel) in 251 BCE. This coin is dated to the 35th year of Ptolemy II’s reign, and it carries the title “Brother-loving Arsinoe.” This particular coin was sold at auction for a staggering 130,000 CHF (approximately $140,860). The coin’s size and its historical importance make it a valuable collector’s item today.
The Importance of Date Systems on Coins
In the ancient world, coins were more than just money. They were symbols of power, authority, and identity. By including a date or year on their coins, ancient cultures could show when the coin was minted, making it easier for people to track time and events. For example, the coins minted in Zankle with the year marked helped establish a timeline for the refugees and their new settlement.
Similarly, the coins from Samos helped track the passage of time during the brief period when they were used. Although the experiment in Samos was short-lived, the idea of marking time on coins was an important development in the history of currency. It showed how ancient societies were evolving in their understanding of time, and how they used coins not just for trade but also for historical record-keeping.
Conclusion
The early use of dated coins provides us with a glimpse into how ancient civilizations tracked time and events. From the Greek refugees of Zankle to the Ptolemaic coins of Egypt, these coins serve as both historical records and valuable artifacts. While it’s common for us today to see dates on our money, it’s important to remember that this was a relatively recent development in the history of coinage. By studying these ancient coins, we gain insights into the ways people lived, how they marked the passage of time, and how they used currency as a tool to tell their stories.
FAQs
Q1: Why don’t most ancient coins have dates on them?
Most ancient coins were not dated because the use of a fixed year system wasn’t common until later. The concept of dating coins with a year (like we do today) didn’t become widespread until the 16th century in Europe.
Q2: What is significant about the Zankle coins?
The Zankle coins are notable for being some of the first to feature a date system. These coins were issued by Greek refugees from Samos who settled in Zankle in 494 BCE. They used the Greek letter “Alpha” (Α) to indicate the year of their settlement as “Year One.”
Q3: How were dates represented on Samos coins?
From 454 BCE to 440 BCE, the coins from Samos were dated using Greek alphabetic numerals. Each year of minting was marked by a corresponding Greek letter, and the year appeared below the chin of a bull on the reverse side of the coin.
Q4: What happened to the coin-dating experiment on Samos?
The coin-dating experiment on Samos was short-lived, lasting from 454 to 440 BCE. It was abandoned after Samos was defeated by Athens in 439 BCE, ending the use of the alphabetic dating system.
Q5: Why was the Arsinoe II Octodrachm issued?
The Arsinoe II Octodrachm was issued posthumously in honor of Arsinoe II, the wife and sister of Ptolemy II. After her death, she was deified and her name was used on coins as a symbol of her divine status. The coin was dated to the 35th year of Ptolemy II’s reign (251/250 BCE).