Hundreds of different Greek cities issued coins between the birth of coined money around 650 BCEand the end of Greek civic coinage some time after 300 CE. The apparent exception was Sparta.

Many serious collectors of ancients have never seen a Spartan coin. Some believe Sparta struckno coins at all. As usual in Classical Numismatics, however, there is a "Yes, but..." lurking inthe weeds. Sparta issued coins, in small quantities, well after it had ceased to be a major powerin the affairs of the Greek world.

While other Greeks experimented with exotic political innovations like democracy, oligarchy andtyranny, conservative Sparta clung stubbornly to its archaic dual monarchy: two equal kings fromdifferent dynastic families, the Agiads and the Eurypontids. It made sense to have a spare king onhand, considering the high risk that at least one king in every generation would die in battle.

Areus, a member of the Agiad dynasty who ruled from 309to 265 BCE, was the first Spartan king to issue coins in his own name. This break with traditionwas driven by the need to pay mercenaries in his war against Macedonia, Sparta no longer having themanpower to raise a citizen army. Ironically, Areus's silver tetradrachm was closely modeled on thewidely circulating Macedonian coinage of Alexander, with the head of Herakles on the obverse and animage of Zeus enthroned holding an eagle on the reverse. Only the inscription "King Areus"indicates the source. Just four examples of this remarkable coin are known, three in museums.

Areus also issued rare silver obols, suggesting a need for small change. Fighting theMacedonians outside Corinth, Areus was killed in 265 BCE.

Cleomenes (ruled 235-222 BCE) placed a realisticportrait of himself wearing the diadem (a golden headband that symbolized Hellenistic monarchy) onhis silver tetradrachms. On the reverse, along with the abbreviation Lambda-Alpha (for Lakedaimon,the name Spartans gave their territory) was the image of Orthia, an ancient local nature goddessidentified with Artemis, sister of Apollo and goddess of hunting.

Cleomenes also issued anonymous bronze coins. This suggests that Sparta's domestic economy hadevolved to function more like other Greek cities, with a need for small change in daily life.

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Ancient Coins: What aboutSparta? (www.coinweek.com/featured-news/ancient-coins-sparta/)