Locri Ozolae

Locri Ozolae, Amphissa Bronze first half of the 2nd century BC, Æ 17.5mm., 3.84g. Head of Apollo right, laureate. Rev. Spearhead and jawbone of Calydonian boar r., to l., bunch of grapes. AMΦIΣ above, ΣEΩN below, in the middle, 8-rayed star and monogram. Weber 3163 (same obverse die) corr. [not as BMC 1]. BCD Lokris-Phokis 165.

Dark patina and very fine.

From the duplicate of the BCD collection and from the Lindgren collection.

The date of 189 - 167 BC for the Amphissa issues suggested by Mando Oeconomidès (see SNG Christomanos 713) seems to be closer to reality than the vague “2nd century BC” usually quoted in other references. Amphissa joined the Aitolian League around 250 BC but its coinage was probably issued after Flamininus defeated Philip V and announced the “independence and autonomy” of the Greek cities. In 190 BC Manius Acilius Glabrio besieged the city and later, between 174 and 160 BC, Amphissa was damaged during clashes between the pro-Roman Aitolians and the local nationalists. Although the city recovered and prospered for the rest of the 2nd century BC and later, there was no more local coinage as Roman money had effectively replaced Greek coins in that part of Greece.