The names of eponymous magistrates, such as archons, etc., also occupy a very prominent place on the money of certain cities; such as Ephesus, for example.

The names of less important functionaries are written in an abbreviated form or even in monogram [(Fig. 40)], in which latter case it is almost always impossible to say what name was intended.

On coins of the later and especially of the Imperial period, the inscriptions are much more lengthy than on those of an earlier date.

§ OF THE METHOD OF DATING COINS.

Dates are not found on Greek coins before the age of Alexander the Great, and even after his time they are of rare occurrence, except on certain Asiatic series and on the money of Egypt. They are usually placed either in the field or the exergue of the coin.

UnitsA.B.Γ.Δ.E.ς.Ζ.H.Θ.
1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.
Tens.I.Κ.Λ.Μ.Ν.Ξ.Ο.Π.κοππα
10.20.30.40.50.60.70.80.90.
Hundreds. P.Σ.Τ.Υ.Φ.Χ.Ψ.Ω.σαμπι
100.200.300.400.500.600.700.800.900.

They are sometimes preceded by the word ΕΤΟΥΣ, thus, ΕΤΟΥΣ ΡΚΔ = Anno 124. On the coinage of Egypt, both under the Ptolemies and under the Roman Emperors, the character [L] is used instead of the word ΕΤΟΥΣ, thus, ΛΓ = Anno 33. This character was probably an ancient Egyptian symbol meaning year, adopted into the Greek system of numeration for the sake of brevity. The following are a few of the many epochs or æras according to which coins are dated:—

§ OF THE DENOMINATIONS OF GREEK COINS.

The unit of account in Greece was the drachm. The weight of the drachm was not everywhere identical. It ranged, as a rule, between about 55 and 95 grs. troy. For purposes of calculation it may be taken in a general way as the ancient equivalent of our modern shilling or franc.