As is known Corinth founded in the 8th BC century colonies in Syracuse and Corfu and in the 7th century BC a number of colonies in northwestern Greece, Lefkada, in Amvrakia in Durres, in Apollonia. As ancient Greek currency was used, known stater. The origin of the rack is Asian. In Greece, the first staters dated the 8th BC century, when many cities began to come in trade with the Phoenicians. The staters were silver or gold, weighing varied from place to place. To distinguish them, gave them the name of the city that issued them, eg: aiginitikoi, Athenian or Attic, Corinthian, Boeotian, Lampsacus .
The ancient coins of Corinth, called Corinthian staters show in front of Pegasus, the winged horse tamed by Bellerophon with the help of Athena. The Bellerophon was the hero of the Corinthians, because subjection Pegasus and killed the Chimera. The hero has managed to tame Pegasus, while drinking water in Upper Peirene, with the help of Athena, who gave him the golden reins. Hence the name Athena Chalinitis.On the back engraved initials an incuse square. The cuts in 515 BC then appears as a reverse head Chalinitidos Athena. This type-Pegasus and Athena-will remain unchanged for two centuries, from the end of the sixth by the end of the 4th century BC
[Silver stater from Lefkada, 400-330 BC
Diameter 20.6 mm - Weight: 5.80 grams
On one side is depicted the head of Athena Chalinitidos and the letter L, which is the first letter of the name of Lefkada. The other side shows the Pegasus, the winged horse and also the letter L, the original name of Lefkada]
All cuts coins bearing the archaic original wording of the national name of the city, qoppa (koppa). The Corinthian colonies remained unusually dependent on Corinth in the coinage. The currencies of the colonies differ from those of Corinth only to replace qoppa the first letter of the original name of the colony. So the coins bear the Lefkada L, of Amvrakia A, Durres to D of the Thyrreiou so I In the 4th century BC these coins circulated widely both in northwestern Greece and South Italy and Sicily. (Source: Io Tsourti, archaeologist, numismatist)
[Silver stater from Lefkada, 350-300 BC
Diameter 22.5 mm - Weight: 8.177 grams
And here is depicted on one side of the Pegasus and the letter L and the other by Athena and also the letter L, the name of Lefkada]
