Coin: Stater, Thebes

This Greek coin is a Stater from the ancient city of Thebes in the Boeotia region of southern Greece. It was struck in the early to mid-4th century BCE. The obverse is a Boeotian shield. This shield is used on all coins stuck in Boeotia and may refer to the worship of Athena Itonia, Greek goddess of wisdom, war, and peace. It could also refer to Ares, Greek god of war. The hero Cadmus the Phoenician came to the area and slew the dragon guarding the fountain of Ares. Here he sowed its teeth to raise a race of warriors. The city was first called Cadmea after him, but the name was later changed to Thebes after the nymph Thebe. The reverse is an amphora. There are faint markings of Greek letters on either side of the amphora.