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The Proto-Attic / "Orientalizing" Period c. 700-600 BCE

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The Proto-Attic / "Orientalizing" Period c. 700-600 BCE

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Lydians introduce bimetallic (gold and silver) currency, early 6th c. BCE

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Lydians introduce bimetallic (gold and silver) currency, early 6th c. BCE

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Archaic Aeginetan Silver Coin. Image from Klaay, ch. 3. 

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First Period of Minting Aeginetan Coins, c. 555-530 BCE

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First Period of Minting Aeginetan Coins, c. 555-530 BCE

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A period of experimentating with design and types of coins.

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Nine Silver Croeseid Coins found at Sardis in Persian Destruction Level, c. 547 BCE. Image from Nicholas Cahill et.al.'s 2025 article "A New Find of Croeseid Coins from Sardis."

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Persians sack Sardis, capital city of Lydia c. 547 BCE

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Persians sack Sardis, capital city of Lydia c. 547 BCE

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Siphnian Silver Coin. Image from Kraay, ch. 3.

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Island of Siphnos the first island with known gold and silver source in the Aegean, c. 540 BCE

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Island of Siphnos the first island with known gold and silver source in the Aegean, c. 540 BCE

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Siphnian silver coinage was small (Aeginetan-weight didrachms and staters).

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Minting of Aeginetan Silver Coins Increases, c. 530-525 BCE

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Minting of Aeginetan Silver Coins Increases, c. 530-525 BCE

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Reconstruction of the Treasury of the Siphnians, located along the Sacred Way in the Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, c. 525 BCE. The reason there is a secure date for the erection of the Siphnian Treasury is because of the Samian invasion. They lost so much wealth erecting the treasury would not have been possible afterwards. 

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Siphnian coin minting ceases, c. 525 BCE. 

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Siphnian coin minting ceases, c. 525 BCE. 

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The Siphnians were attacked by Samian pirates and forced to pay a ransom of 100 talents. Their gold and silver mines started to fail afterwards.

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Theran Silver Coin with two dolphins on obverse, c. end of 6th c. BCE. Image from Kraay, c. 3. 

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Dorian Thera producing didrachm silver coinage modeled on Aegina, c. 525-500 BCE

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Dorian Thera producing didrachm silver coinage modeled on Aegina, c. 525-500 BCE

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Milesian Silver Coin depicting a melon or apple on the obverse and simple incuse patterns on the reverse. Image from Kraay, ch. 3. 

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Dorian Melos minting staters and fractions using Milesian weight standard (14.6 g), c. 515 BCE

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Dorian Melos minting staters and fractions using Milesian weight standard (14.6 g), c. 515 BCE

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Massive Production of Aeginetan Silver Coins, c. 515 - 480 BCE

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Massive Production of Aeginetan Silver Coins, c. 515 - 480 BCE

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The Early Classical Period c. 480-450 BCE

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The Early Classical Period c. 480-450 BCE

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Production of Aeginetan Silver Coins Decreases, c. 479 BCE

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Production of Aeginetan Silver Coins Decreases, c. 479 BCE

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An impact of the Persian invasions.

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Melian Silver Coin depicting an apple with reverse incuse cross patterns on the obverse and three dolphins with a central dot on the reverse. Image from Kraay, ch. 3. 

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Melos begins producing new coin types, c. 475-440 BCE

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Melos begins producing new coin types, c. 475-440 BCE

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Early Classical Aeginetan Silver Coin with T-pattern turtle shell on obverse and large skew-pattern on reverse. Image from Kraay's chapter "Aegina, the Aegean Islands, and Crete."

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Standardization in coin form consistent with Early Classical coinage types--rounded, flatter, and broader.

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Kydonian Silver Imitation Coin of Aeginetan Silver Coins, c. 470 BCE. Image from Kraay, ch. 3. The obverse depicts a turtle shell divided into 3 rows of parallel segments; the reverse shows an added crescent symbol. Weight of coins reduced to hemidrachms (~2.75 g).

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Cretan Poleis (city-states) Begin Minting Local Coins, ~c.470 BCE

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Cretan Poleis (city-states) Begin Minting Local Coins, ~c.470 BCE

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Kydonia was an Aeginetan colony on Crete. It was one of the first places on Crete to mint their own coins, beginning with Aeginetan imitations.

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The High Classical Period c. 450-400 BCE

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The High Classical Period c. 450-400 BCE

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Gortyna and Phaistos mint the same types. The obverse depicts Europa seated on the bull's back; the reverse depicts a lion's scalp. The imagery signals the poleis' interest in referencing Crete's mythical past. Image from Kraay, ch. 3. 

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Cretan Poleis, Gortyna and Phaistos mint their own coins for the first time, mid-5th c. BCE

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Cretan Poleis, Gortyna and Phaistos mint their own coins for the first time, mid-5th c. BCE

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Although Gortyna and Phaistos were producing the same types of silver coins, Gortyna was producing twice as many dies as Phaistos.

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Aeginetan Silver Coin depicting new obverse type: Greek Tortoise. Image from Kraay, ch. 3.

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Final Phase of Aeginetan Coinage Production, c. 445-431 BCE

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Final Phase of Aeginetan Coinage Production, c. 445-431 BCE

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Athenians capture Melos and kill all Melian males, c. 416 BCE

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Athenians capture Melos and kill all Melian males, c. 416 BCE

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The Late Classical Period c. 400-323 BCE

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The Late Classical Period c. 400-323 BCE