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Lokris Opuntia Federal Coinage
Ostensibly Struck at Greek city of Opus in Lokris
Silver Obol 11mm Struck circa 375-350 B.C.
Pedigree: HGC 4, 1000 Rare R2; BMC 36. SNG Copenhagen 57
Certification: NGC Ancients Ch VF 4243871-011
OΠ-ON, amphora with ivy leaf and grapes.
Star with sixteen rays, around circle of eight pellets surrounding center pellet; all within circular incuse.
A mountainous and infertile region of Central Greece, Phokis began producing a federal currency in early part of the 5th Century B.C. There were two separate districts occupied by the Lokrians – eastern Lokris, opposite the coastlines of Thessaly and Euboia, inhabited by the Opuntians and the Epiknemidians; the western Lokris, on the Corinthian gulf, called Lokris Ozolis. Following the battle of Chaeroneia, 338 B.C. , the coins were issued in the name of the Lokrians in general, rather than just the Opuntians, though doubtless Opus remained the mint.
The Opuntian Lokris enjoyed fame for being the home of Ajax the Lesser. This took forty ships to fight at Troy, however was later killed by Poseidon and Athena because of sacrilege and hubris after the city fell. When the Lokrians marched off to war, they reserved a space for the shadow of Ajax in their phalanx.
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Opuntian Locris or Eastern Locris was an ancient Greek region inhabited by the eastern division of the Locrians, the so-called tribe of the Locri Epicnemidii (Greek: Λοκροί Ἐπικνημίδιοι) or Locri Opuntii (Greek: Λοκροί Ὀπούντιοι).
The Eastern Locrians, are mentioned by Homer, who describes them as following Ajax, the son of Oïleus, to the Trojan War in forty ships, and as inhabiting the towns of Cynus, Opus, Calliarus, Besa, Scarphe, Augeiae, Tarphe, and Thronium. Neither Homer, Herodotus, Thucydides, nor Polybius, make any distinction between the Opuntii and Epicnemidii; and, during the flourishing period of Greek history, Opus was regarded as the chief town of the Eastern Locrians. Even Strabo, from whom the distinction is chiefly derived, in one place describes Opus as the metropolis of the Epicnemidii (ix. p. 416); and the same is confirmed by Pliny (iv. 7. s. 12) and Stephanus. In the Persian War the Opuntian Locrians fought with Leonidas at the Battle of Thermopylae, and also sent seven ships to the Greek fleet. The Locrians fought on the side of Sparta in the Peloponnesian War. The Locri Opuntii also minted coins in antiquity, some of which survive.
The cities and towns of the Locri Epicnemidii, along the coast from north to south, were: Alpenus, Nicaea, Scarphe (Scarpheia), Thronium, Cnemis (Cnemides), more inland, Tarphe later Pharygae, and Augeiae. The cities and towns of the Locri Opuntii, along the coast from north to south, were: Alope, Cynus, Opus, Halae, Larymna which later belonged to Boeotia, more inland, Calliarus, Naryx, and Corseia.
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