Posted 11/01/2008 02:24 am
The coins in question were cup-shaped because the dies used to strike them were cup-shaped.
So, Why were the dies cup-shaped? That we don't know.
I suspect it may have originally had more to do with whatever techniques they were using to make the dies, rather than a deliberate attempt to make scyphate coinage. Once these accidental scyphate coins were issued, people realised that such coins had certain benefits over traditional flat ones (eg stacking easier) and so the practice became established.
So, Why were the dies cup-shaped? That we don't know.
I suspect it may have originally had more to do with whatever techniques they were using to make the dies, rather than a deliberate attempt to make scyphate coinage. Once these accidental scyphate coins were issued, people realised that such coins had certain benefits over traditional flat ones (eg stacking easier) and so the practice became established.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
