2017-05-16 Tue

Yesterday we studied about the Alexandrian coinage of Troas. Belonging mainly between 4thto 5th century B.C., the coinage of Troas can be divided into four distinct region groups:

1) Ilium
2) Abydus
3) Sigeum and
4) Alexandria.
Today we shall learn a little more about the coinage of Troas, Ilium.

Ilium was a place of no political importance, until the days of Alexander the Great. The statue of Athena of Ilium is said to be sent from heaven by Zeus.

The obverse of the coins from this region has the bust of Athena facing right while the reverse has a figure of Goddess Athena holding a spear in her right hand and a distaff in her left hand. There is also an owl standing in front of her. The portrait is surrounded by inscriptions on three sides.