Tokens in classical Athens and beyond: politics, communities, contexts

Open access

[Authors and titles are listed at the end of the review.]

Tokens in Classical Athens and Beyond is a collection based on a workshop held at the British School in Athens in 2019. It is the third book to come out of the European Research Council project ‘Token Communities in the Ancient Mediterranean‘.[1]

The book is organised into 12 chapters, along with a preface and a comprehensive introduction, divided into four thematic parts: I) Symbola in Perception and Practice; II) New Finds, Embarking on Modern Interpretation; III) Athenian Tokens in the Aftermath of the Classical Period, and IV) Comparative Studies. Additionally, the book includes an extensive bibliography and three indices: General Index, Ancient Authors Cited, and Inscriptions.

The introduction by Gkikaki effectively summarises previous scholarship and sets the stage for the chapters to follow, particularly through its discussion of the categorization, definition, and methodology of tokens, with a strong focus on placing Athenian tokens within an international context. The lack of provenance for some tokens is briefly discussed here (p. 4); however, it would have been beneficial to elaborate on whether Greece’s diverse excavation history is to blame for the Athenocentric publication record of tokens.

There is some overlap in content between chapters, especially in the repeated treatment of the same tokens by different authors. This is not problematic as such, but a concordance cross-referencing tokens discussed in various chapters would have been helpful. The types could also have been noted there, as well as whether or not some tokens appear to be from the same die. A few editorial slips are noted, such as the inconsistent use of BC/BCE throughout. On a positive note, it is extremely useful that contributions referencing ancient texts include both the ancient Greek and a translation of the ancient text, and the reviewer appreciates the inclusion of illustrations with extensive captions, although though it would have been desirable for a few of the black-and-white illustrations to be in color.

In the following, the reviewer provides comments on each chapter, beginning with Finglass, who is to be praised for his careful examination of both literary and archaeological evidence and elegantly tying the two together. His insightful connections between the concept of symbolism and ideas like ‘xenia’ and ‘xenios’ are particularly useful. Kierstead’s chapter on Athenian ‘jigsaw tokens’ describes a compelling scenario in which these tokens were used each year to determine the offices of various tribes and demes. While I believe this scenario is plausible, it raises questions about the feasibility of producing thousands of tokens each year, also keeping in mind that not that many have hitherto been found in excavations. Kierstead discusses this and correctly states that many areas of modern Athens remain unexplored and unexcavated because the modern city sits on top of the ancient one, and it is entirely possible that tokens will be discovered in yet unexcavated deposits near the Athenian Agora, and that some will in the future be rediscovered in storerooms of Athenian museums. Overall, it is a convincing contribution, particularly when combined with the author’s expert use of Ath.Pol. A very well-presented and convincing interpretation, particularly on page 52, is the comparison to tokens used as ‘passports’ by military officers taking up commands in distant locations. The conclusion that the ‘jigsaw tokens’ were an attempt to combat corruption is also presented convincingly.

Gkikaki’s focus on the Athenian Council’s distribution of public tokens is helpful, though there is some overlap with other chapters and a few sections could have been streamlined, for instance, the Neolithic example on page 66 seems out of place in the context of this volume. Russo’s chapter on tribal tokens, while informative, could have been somewhat rephrased for better readability. The section ‘Towards a Corpus of Tribal Tokens’ (pp. 85–94) is mostly in catalogue format and could have been presented at the end of the chapter for easier reading (as seen in other chapters). The discussion of newly published clay tokens in Makrypodi’s chapter is fascinating, though the material is rather difficult and the presentation could have been more coherent. There is a discrepancy in the numbers; the chapter claims that there are 67 new tokens, but Table 5.1 is missing numbers 65–67. Kroll’s contribution provides a concise and well-organised overview of tokens in Athenian law courts and assemblies, and the small addendum on one lead token with the Boule legend and its relation to the Athenian council (boule) is a great contribution to the scholarship.

Kirra’s chapter is one of the highlights of this volume. She discusses 19 lead tokens from the late Hellenistic period, each marked with value symbols. These tokens were discovered during excavations beneath the new Acropolis Museum, specifically in House Lambda, within a cistern (Cistern III) and three pits. Kirra posits that these tokens, which were covered by Sullan debris and found alongside a small number of other items dating to the late 1st century BC, likely belong to a single group. The reviewer suggests that, with the presence of 25 coins dating from the mid-80s to around 50 BC, this evidence could be an ideal context for a reassessment of the typology (and chronology?) of these coin types. Kirra convincingly argues that these tokens originated from a private establishment and were likely used as vouchers, possibly for entry to a specific location or to facilitate the provision of particular goods or services. This interpretation is further supported by the discovery of a lead weight and vessels for measuring liquids (and possibly solids) alongside the tokens. Kirra presents this important evidence with humility, yet the reviewer believes the strength of the evidence is indisputable. Unfortunately, the excavations beneath the new Acropolis Museum remain largely unpublished. Kirra’s work, however, highlights the significance of these unpublished finds, which have the potential to answer many unresolved questions not only within the study of tokens but also in broader aspects of the ancient economy. This chapter is a substantial contribution to the scholarship, and the author is to be commended for the precise and thorough presentation of the excavation records and the finds, all while staying within the scope of the book. Schafer’s chapter focusses on the iconography of Nike on Athenian lead tokens, and is in some places somewhat repetitive, and its significant focus on art history does not completely correspond with the broader context of the other papers. Modello’s discussion of Alexander the Great’s representation on tokens is applauded for examining its relationship to a shared Greek identity.

In the “Comparative Studies” section, Crisa broadens the perspective beyond Athens by discussing unprovenanced clay tokens from Sicily and connecting them to ritual contexts across the Mediterranean region. The author does an excellent job presenting eight clay tokens that lack provenance and, in most cases, have no known origin—a difficult and time-consuming task. These tokens are examined in light of their archival and research histories, providing new and intriguing evidence that broadens the book’s primarily Athens-focused narrative. The connection to ritual contexts, specifically cretulae discovered at Selinunte’s Temple C, is particularly compelling. This connection would be an excellent addition to discussions about Athenian clay tokens. The iconography of the Sicilian tokens is fascinating and diverse: one resembles an Athenian tetradrachm, while another depicts a bearded Zeus and the river-god Achelous. It would have been interesting to hear the author’s thoughts on how this imagery relates to Aitolia and Akarnania on Greece’s nearby northwest coast, where the river separates the two regions, and whether similar tokens have been discovered there.[2] Furthermore, three of the clay tokens depict elephants, which, as the author points out, suggest a Punic or African connection. Through meticulous analysis, the author demonstrates that these eight unprovenanced clay tokens from Sicily make a significant contribution to the larger discussion of tokens.

Farhi’s study of Roman clay tokens from Jerusalem, which employs modern analytical techniques, is promising for setting new standards in the field of token studies. This chapter is the first time that 3D scanning and pXRF analyses have been used on a collection of Roman tokens from Jerusalem, specifically the Temple Mount. The tokens feature Greek and Aramaic legends and comic designs on the reverse sides, with four examples discussed in detail. While the pXRF results are presented in the text, a small table would have made the data more accessible (but this is a matter of personal preference). The author presents the tokens’ local and nonlocal origins in a straightforward manner and one token is a seal ring with the image of an amphora, which could also be interpreted as a krater (according to the reviewer’s assessment) due to the lack of visible handles. The publication of this small group of Roman tokens is especially valuable because it provides clear contextual information, as all of the tokens originated on the Temple Mount and were most likely used in Temple-related activities. Notably, several tokens—including one preserving a Greek legend and another an Aramaic inscription—show evidence of being attached to fabric. Despite their different designs, these four tokens have similar shapes and manufacturing techniques.

Finally, Bulgurlu and Coşkun’s presentation of lead tokens from the Ephesos museum is valuable for its insights into the tokens’ significance in civic and religious activities, particularly in relation to the Artemis Ephesia cult. The chapter examines 87 tokens in detail, all but seven of which are uniface. The discussion delves right into the descriptions of these tokens, including their legends and iconography. Thirty-one tokens depict gods and goddesses, including six of Artemis, three of Nike, and three of the Three Graces. The authors present a compelling case that these tokens were associated with the elite, implying that members of this group sponsored festivals, the distribution of grain, and other gifts on such occasions, possibly referring to dedication. What stands out in this analysis is the similarity between the iconography on the tokens and that on coins, which was also observed in Athens. The authors point out that Ephesos, as one of the cities claiming Artemis’ birthplace, had civic coins and tokens with imagery closely related to Ephesian identity. According to the authors, the tokens with sacred iconography most likely played a role in the Artemis Ephesia cult. Notably, the chapter briefly mentions that women’s names appear on some of these tokens, which could have been explored further, especially in relation to the important hydrophoroi (female) priesthoods at Ephesos and Didyma, also elite offices.[3] This connection would have deepened the discussion of the tokens’ social and religious significance.

To summarize, Tokens in Classical Athens and Beyond is an important and enlightening contribution to the study of tokens and related objects, though more stringent editorial oversight could have reduced some redundancy and overlap between chapters. The papers successfully broaden our understanding of tokens in and beyond Classical Athens by including comparative studies from other regions and periods, and the editor deserves recognition for making these invaluable contributions available to the scholarly community.

Authors and Titles

Introduction (M.E. Gkikaki)

I SYMBOLA IN PERCEPTION AND PRACTICE

1. Tragic Tokens: Sophoclean Symbola in Context (P.J. Finglass)
2. The Athenian Jigsaw Tokens (James Kierstead)
3. The Council of Five Hundred and Symbola in Classical Athens (M.E. Gkikaki)
4. Lead Tokens and Athenian Tribes: Iconography and Contexts of Use (Daria Russo)

II NEW FINDS, EMBARKING ON MODERN INTERPRETATIONS

5. Athenian Clay Tokens: New Types, New Series (Stamatoula Makrypodi)
6. Lettered and Other Tokens in the Lawcourts and the Assembly of Athens (John H. Kroll)
7. The Lot of Lead Tokens from the Makrygianni Plot in Athens (Irini Karra)

III ATHENIAN TOKENS IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE CLASSICAL PERIOD

8. Nike on Hellenistic Lead Tokens from Athens: Iconography and Meaning (Martin Schäfer)
9. Alexander the Great on Lead: Notes on Some Tokens from Roman Imperial Athens (Cristian Mondello)

IV COMPARATIVE STUDIES

10. New Hellenistic and Roman Clay Tokens from Sicily: Some Case Studies from the Museum of Palermo (Antonino Crisà)
11. A New Type of Roman-Period Clay Tokens from Jerusalem (Yoav Farhi)

A Group of Lead Tokens in the Ephesos Museum Collection (Vera Geelmuyden Bulgurlu and Tümay Hazinedar Coşkun)

Notes

[1] A. Crisà, A., M.E. Gkikaki and C. Rowan (eds.) 2019, Tokens: Culture, Connections, and Communities. Royal Numismatic Society, London; C. Rowan, 2023, Tokens and Social Life in Roman Imperial Italy. Cambridge University Press.

[2] A. Nagel, A. 2020, “A River ran through it. Circulating images of ritual and engaging communities in a cave in Aitoloakarnania,” in Cave and Worship in Ancient Greece. New Approaches to Landscape and Ritual, edited by Stella Katsarou and Alexander Nagel, Routledge, p. 116.

[3] See e.g. H. Bumke, 2021, “Artémis Pytheiè à Didymes: réflexions sur la fonction et la signification de la déesse dans l’ombre du culte oraculaire,” in Kernos suppl. 37, Artémis près d’Apollon Délos, Delphes, Claros et Didymes, edited by d’Hélène Aurigny and Cécile Durvye, pp. 335–348..