The Gazoros Hoard (CH-IX-61) and the coins with the legends [Greek] BERG, BERGAIOU

A silver trite bearing on the right the scene of the rape of the Nymph and on the reverse the legend BERGAIOU made up part of a hoard of silver coins that came from the Classical cemetery at Gazoros (Serres). From the archeological context, the date of its burial should be in the middle of the 4th century. Two imitations of silver trites from Thasos, five Thasian hemiekta, a hemiekton from Eion and a hemidrachm from Neapolis also formed part of the hoard. The Thasian hemiekta, which date from the last decades of the 5th century, had a particularly important role in the monetary circulation of the region. The presence of the coin with the legend BERGAIOU in the hoard induced us to make a study in depth of this series, which dates from the first decades of the 4th century. The question of the issuing authority of these coins as well as of the bronze ones with legend BERG, attributed by O.Picard to the city of Berge, is discussed. The silver coins are also attributed to this city: the legend with the ethnic in the neuter genitive is interpreted as signifying the denomination, according to a usage attested by the inscriptions.