On the regal coinages from the time of Philip of Macedon onwards, in cases where a uniform coinage was issued at many mints, an adjunct symbol was very generally placed in the field of the coin as a mint-mark designating the place of issue (_e.g._ the Trident on Fig. 4). It is frequently impossible to distinguish such local mint-marks from the personal signets of the officer entrusted by the king with the supervision of the currency. § INSCRIPTIONS. The inscriptions on Greek coins may be divided into the following principal classes:-- (i.) The name of the people or state. (ii.) The name of the chief of the state, whether tyrant or king. (iii.) The name of a magistrate. (iv.) The name of the engraver of the die. (v.) A legend referring to the type. The above are written sometimes at full length and sometimes in an abbreviated form, or in the form of a more or less complicated monogram. Those of class i., when written in full, are usually in the genitive plural, _e.g._ ΣΤΡΑΚΟΣΙΟΝ (Frontispiece). Those of class ii. are also in the genitive, _e.g._, ΒΑΣΙΛΑΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ (Fig. 8). Those of class iii. are either in the nominative (as ΠΟΛΥΚΡΑΤΗΣ, Fig. 45) or the genitive; in the latter case frequently preceded by ΕΗΙ (Fig. 12), and often also accompanied by the title of the office as ἑφι Λυσιστῥατου ἁρχοντος, ἑφι στραθηγου Διονυσἱου. Among the magistrates most frequently mentioned on Greek Imperial coins are the following:-- The Archon, the Strategos (Prætor), the Grammateus (Secretary), the Prytanis, the Tamias (Treasurer), the Archiereus and Hiereus (High Priest and Priest), the Asiarch, the Hypatos (Consul), and the Anthypatos (Proconsul), etc., etc. Those of class iv. are in the genitive, except when accompanied by the verb (_e.g._ ΘΕΟΔΟΤΟΣ ΕΠΟΕΙ, for ἑποἱει). This class of inscriptions is usually in very minute characters. Those of class v. are in the nominative, as ΖΕΥΣ ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΟΣ (Fig. 1), or genitive, as ΑΡΕΟΣ (Fig. 28). The names of kings, even when unaccompanied by the title ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ, hold so conspicuous a position on the reverse of the coins, that it is easy to distinguish them from the names of less important monetary magistrates. The names of eponymous magistrates, such as archons, etc., also occupy a very prominent place on the money of certain cities; such as Ephesus, for example. The names of less important functionaries are written in an abbreviated form or even in monogram (Fig. 40), in which latter case it is almost always impossible to say what name was intended. On coins of the later and especially of the Imperial period, the inscriptions are much more lengthy than on those of an earlier date. § OF THE METHOD OF DATING COINS. Dates are not found on Greek coins before the age of Alexander the Great, and even after his time they are of rare occurrence, except on certain Asiatic series and on the money of Egypt. They are usually placed either in the field or the exergue of the coin.