Ancient Coin of the Day: I bloody LOVE this one! A silver Tetradrachm of the First Macedonian & #39;Meris& #39;, ca. 158-150 BC. The Obverse is a portrait of Zeus; the Reverse shows a depiction of Artemis Tauropolos. #ACOTD

Image: ANS 1968.250.1

Livy (45.29) tells us that in 167 BC, in the aftermath of Rome& #39;s victory over King Perseus of Macedon the previous year, "in quattuor regiones dividi Macedoniam" - & #39;Macedon was to be divided into four regions& #39;. These districts were the & #39;Merides& #39;.

This coin was minted by the & #39;First Meris& #39; - "quod agri inter Strymonem et Nessum sit amnem", & #39;which would be the land between the Strymon and Nessus Rivers& #39;. The Legend on the Reverse reading & #39;ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΩΝ ΠΡΩΤΗΣ& #39; - & #39;Of the Macedonians, First& #39;.

However, recent work on the coinage by Sophia Kremydi- Sicilianou has suggested that these coin designs actually date to earlier than the & #39;Roman reorganisation& #39; of Macedon mentioned by Livy, being evident in the reigns of the last Antagonid KIngs Philip V and Perseus himself.

For more on this, see:

Sophia Kremydi-Sicilianou, 2007, "ΜΑΚΕΔΩΝΟΝ ΠΡΟΤΕΣ ΜΕΡΙΔΟΣ : Evidence for a coinage under the Antigonids", in & #39;Revue Numismatique 163, pp. 91-100

https://www.persee.fr/doc/numi_0484-8942_2007_num_6_163_2825

https://www.persee.fr/doc/numi_... href="https://twtext.com//hashtag/ACOTD"> #ACOTD