Indische Palaographie von circa 350 a. Chr. – circa 1300 p. Chr. c18.5

c18.5

§ 9. Athenian coins. — At an early period, the *owls* of Athens were carried in the course of commerce to the East; and, when the supply from the Athenian mint grew less (i. e. for about a century before B.C. 322, when the mint was closed) imitations were made in N. India. Some of these are merely attempts to faithfully reproduce the originals (**Plate I, 6**); others, probably somewhat later in date, substitute for the owl on the reverse an eagle (**Plate I, 7**). From the latter class, the coins of Sophytes (v. inf. § 11), who, at the time of Alexander's invasion (326 B.C.) ruled over a district on the banks of the Acesines, seem to be copied (**Plate I, 8**).