While some of the coins featured in Whitman Publishing’s 100 Greatest Ancient Coins have detailed backgrounds and stories attached to their creation and designs, some are more straightforward. One of these we will continue to talk about in our blog series following along with the Harlan J. Berk compilation. As a reminder, we move through this top 100 list from the earliest coinage onward. This means their rankings are out of order.
#69 – Thebes Stater (Greece – 440-395 BC)
During the fourth century BC, the city-state of Thebes became the greatest power in Greece. This is reflected in the sheer number of silver staters to come from the region. The obverse shows a shield known as a Boeotian, or heroic shield. The shield is known in the art world where heroes adorned the odd shaped headwear in mythology. Continuing that connective theme, many Greek legends known today are said to have their own connections to Thebes. One of those includes Hollywood’s The Magnificent Seven, which was an adaptation inspired by Japan’s Seven Samurai, which was again inspired by the legend of Seven Against Thebes.
The main reverse of the silver coins features an amphora, or ornamental vase, decorated with ivy leaves. According to Berk, the amphora is symbolic of the god of wine, Dionysus. He was a major deity from Thebes. The reverse also features the name of a magistrate and those famous from Theban history. Of those, the most well-known is Epaminondas who was the chief architect of Theban power. He was killed in 362 BC in battle.
Some other notable reverses feature mythical characters such as Dionysus and Heracles.