The circulation and distribution of classical Greek coinage

Abstract

From a sample of the most prominent Greek city-states, data involving a total of 999 hoards and 160,007 coins from 550 to 300 BC were collected to discern the relative magnitudes, consistency of issue, and distribution of Classical Greek coinages. Of the city-states in this sample, the data display the widespread international use of several Classical Greek coinages. Most notable amongst these are the proliferation of Corinthian-style coinage in Sicily and Italy and the penetration of Athenian coinage into non-Greek areas such as the Levant and Egypt. The international movement of coins bolsters other forms of evidence for trade between Mediterranean civilizations in antiquity. Foreign imitations of the most successful internationally circulating coinages are also quantified and discussed.