Fig. 47.Fig. 48.
Nike (Victory).

Nike (Victory). (Figs. [47, 48]). This divinity is almost always winged, and often flying (see [Frontispiece]). She usually carries a wreath; and on coins of Alexander the Great a sort of mast with a cross-yard (the stand for a trophy of arms). Sometimes she is nailing armour to a trophy [(Fig. 48)].

§ SYMBOLS.

In addition to the principal type, whether of the obverse or of the reverse, there is generally to be seen on the coins of Greek states a subordinate adjunct device, which occupies some vacant space in the field of the coin. These additions to the main type are of two kinds:—

(1) Symbols connected more or less directly with the main type: such as the sacred olive branch on the coins of Athens, and the club and bow on [Fig. 24]. (2) Symbols having no connection whatever with the principal type; such as the small animal on [Fig. 7].

The symbols of the 1st class are naturally limited in number and more or less constant accompaniments of the main type, to which they were intended to give greater precision and definiteness of meaning. Those of the 2nd class, on the other hand, might be varied very frequently on coins of one and the same series. There can be no doubt that such symbols were the distinctive badges or signets of one of the magistrates or moneyers under whose authority the coinage was issued. The frequency with which these personal symbols were varied corresponds with the duration of the term of office of the magistrate in question, whether annual or other.

On the regal coinages from the time of Philip of Macedon onwards, in cases where a uniform coinage was issued at many mints, an adjunct symbol was very generally placed in the field of the coin as a mint-mark designating the place of issue (e.g. the Trident on [Fig. 4]). It is frequently impossible to distinguish such local mint-marks from the personal signets of the officer entrusted by the king with the supervision of the currency.

§ INSCRIPTIONS.