★ **Archepolis** ★

Ionia, Magnesia ad Maeandrum. Archepolis. Fourrèe Drachm, 3.63 g 14.97 mm. Probably after 459 BC.
Obv: Bearded man standing right, wearing himation (Archepolis?); holding lon scepter and laurel branch.
Rev: M- Σ to left and right of eagle standing front with wings spread.
See Wenninger and Nolle ‘Themistokles und Archepolis’; Kallet, L., Kroll, J. H; ‘The Athenian Empire: Using Coins as Sources’.

In many examples where the Archepolis can be seen on the obverse of the coin, it can be seen that he is seen with a himation and a beard. These coins were often supported by legends in which his name was mentioned clearly or abbreviated. Figures carrying laurel branches are usually identified as Apollo. The fact that the figure's body on this coin is completely covered with a himation and also a beard prevents him from being Apollo and brings him closer to the possibility of being Archepolis. Apollo appears as a particularly beardless and young figure and often wears a short tunic. This iconography of Apollo can also be found on all Magnesia coins. Furthermore, this coin differs from other examples, which are already very rare, in that there is no legend on the coin and that this coin is a period counterfeit.

The Greek general Themistocles settled in Magnesia in collaboration with the Persians, lived and ruled here and also died here, as we learn from Pausanias, in 459 BC. in Magnesia. During his dominion here, he minted many coins in his name, including the Persian straps. After his death, his son Archepolis continued to mint coins. The fact that Archepolis continued to mint coins after the death of Themistocles is an indication that the Persian regime allowed the children of the families that dominated the cities to continue to rule the cities in return for their loyalty. So we see that Themistocles passed his rule to his son by inheritance. Although they owed all their power to the favor of the Persian king, these rulers were free to mint their own currency.