Overstriking at Gortyna: insights and new perspectives

As for many Cretan cities, a feature of the coin production of Gortyna is the continuous re-use of specimens from other mints, as a matter of fact one of the hypothesis consider that the beginning of local coinage might be connected to the end of the circulation of foreign coins, and particularly those from Aegina. In light of new data, the case of Gortyna must be reconsidered distinguishing among the different periods of autonomous activity of the mint: by the analysis of a sample of coins, it is possible to identify the percentage of overstruck coins and the provenance of the flans. It becomes possible to understand the trends attested in coin production in the Hellenistic period, which have been linked with the homecoming of groups of mercenaries after they had been paid with coins struck from Cyrenaican mints or as part of the booty. In such case, it becomes clear that, although the quantity of overstruck coins was rather significant in the Hellenistic period, a great quantity of coins can be referred to Cretan towns. This though does not happen in the nearby city of Phaistos and might mean a choice of the monetary policy of Gortyna. Because of such data, we suggest new hypothesis which may open further perspectives of study on the understanding of overstriking, through the reading of which the most meaningful features of Cretan economy can be integrated.