The coinage of Athens is one of the most memorable types from the Greek series. From its onset in the 6th century BC at a time when silver coinage was beginning to be struck on the continent to the very end of production in c. 42 BC, the type maintained its legitimacy. From 267-261 BC Athens allied itself with Sparta, Ptolemaic Egypt and other Greek city-states in an effort to halt impeding Antigonid Macedonian domination. During this period there was an apparent halt in the striking of any Athenian coinage. This war was known as the Chremonidean War (named after the Athenian general who help to create the alliance against the Antigonids). Unfortunately the Athenians were defeated and the Macedonian victors held the city. It was not until after the last Macedonian garrisons left in c. 229 BC that Athenian coinage began to be struck again and circulated throughout the region. During the 31 year gap it is likely that the silver coinage of the Macedonians circulated. Once reintroduced, the Athenian coinage maintained its primary imagery of Athena and owl but on a thinner and larger flan, not unlike the Macedonian predecessor coinage. Coins became much more detailed in information with magistrates names and various symbols alluding to mints and mint officials. Due to the defeat of the Macedonians in the first half of the second century BC and the defeat of the Achaian League in 146 BC, only Athens and the Thessalian League were striking silver coinage. Athens once again became the dominant coinage until c. 42 BC when Marc Antony and Octavian defeated Brutus and Cassius at the Battle of Philippi in avenging Julius Caesar's death. By this time the Roman denarius, had started to circulate in abundance in the area and the Athenian coinage was discontinued.