Stater

Gortyna was one of the dominant poleis of southern Crete, and by 300 BC its mint had been operating for well over a century. The city controlled the fertile Mesara plain and, unlike many Cretan cities that struck only intermittently, maintained relatively consistent silver coinage — likely tied to mercenary activity, as Cretan soldiers were among the most sought-after in the Hellenistic world and required reliable means of payment.

Svoronos remains the foundational reference for Cretan coinage despite dating to 1890, and his numbering reflects die-study work that has never been fully superseded.