Illyrian coinage
Illyrian coinage which began in the 6th century BC continued up to the 1st century of
Early coins
The earliest Illyrian coins were probably minted by the Tyntenoi north of Lake Ohrid minted coins around 540 BC with the Greek legend Tynteni. Their silver coins reached Italy, Egypt and many parts of Asia. They belonged to the group of 'Thraco-Macedonian' coinages of this period, and they bore the same emblems as the coins of Ichnae at the head of the Thermaic Gulf. Production ceased in the early 5th century BC, most likely in 475 BC when this period was one of comparative poverty, during which contacts were lost with mainland Greece and relations with Ionia via the Danube valley slackened.[1]
The
At the same time as the Messapians, the Paeonian tribe of the Derrones were also producing coins. These coins are traditionally dated to 500 BC – 450 BC. Frequent depictions on the coins attributed to the Derrones are Oxen and Corinthian helmets. Their god, Darr(h)on, was worshipped by Paionians and Macedonians.[3][4] The Paeonian kings dealt greatly and seriously with the minting coins. However this activity in terms of quality and appearance did not differ much from Greek coins. Even the Paeonians themselves at this time were becoming hellenized more and more and lost to a great degree their characteristic as a non-Greek people.[5]
The earliest Illyrian coins in Illyria were minted from the start of the 4th century BC in the
. The presence of silver mines around the city in ancient sources made it possible for the minting of coins in such a great abundance.Illyrian kings
The only kings to have minted coins bearing their names were
.Patraus
The coinage of Patraus is remarkable. It bears on the obverse a head of Apollo, which may be an allusion to the king's name, Apollo being known under the name of Patraus. On the reverse of the coins is a horseman riding over an enemy, alluding to victories over the Macedonians, and an inscription naming the king.[7]
Audoleon
The coins of Audoleon have a head wearing a Corinthian helmet on the obverse and on the reverse a horse stepping, very boldly executed and an inscription naming the king.
Monunios
The first
Mytilus
Gentius
The most productive coinage is of
Ballaios
Ballaios reigned after the kingdom of Gentius was dissolved into the Roman Empire from around 167 BC – 135 BC. The abundance of the coinage of Ballaios in the region would suggest that he was a powerful and influential king although no literary of historical evidence of him exists. The coins of the well-known king Gentius are scarce in comparison to the coins of Ballaios. His silver issues are rare, but bronze coins (without the royal title) occur on Hvar in Croatia, both in single finds and in hoards, and at Rhizon, the ancient capital of Queen Teuta, in a different series bearing the royal title. The coins of Ballaios were widely imitated in the region, sometimes so crudely that they are unintelligible. Ballaios struck coins in two cities: Pharos and Rhizon. The weight of the bronze coins are between 1.0 and 4.5 g, while most of the documented specimens weigh between 2.0 and 2.5 g. The relativity great impact of the coinage of Ballaios is indicated by a large number of imitations of his coins. His coins are found in both the eastern Adriatic shores and frequently in Italy, which confirms the trade contacts between the two Adriatic coasts.[10][11]
On the obverse of his coins a bust of the king facing left to right is depicted, while on the reverse Artemis (advancing or standing) is represented, with or without a torch and sometimes carrying one or two spears. It is significant that Ballaios also had silver coins minted, which indicates his wealth and power, since elsewhere in Dalmatia, silver coinage is very rarely documented from the Greek and Illyrian mints.[10]
City coins
The coins of ancient Lissus, modern-day
The chronology of these coinages is still not defined with precision, primarily because the historical background of their issuance remains little known. There is hardly any mention in the literary sources of the town of Rhizon, and none of the king Ballaios. However, several features of these coinages - such as the characteristics of style, elements of inscription and iconography (especially the presence of the title “basileus” on the coinage of Ballaios, and the presence of a Macedonian shield on the “Coinage from the Rhizonian Gulf”), metrology, choice of coined metals, etc. – point to the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE as the general chronological framework for the activity of the Rhizonian mint and for the successive issuance of the coinages of different issuing authorities there. Around
See also
References
- ^ A History of Macedonia: 550–336 BC by Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière Hammond, Guy Thompson Griffith, page 93 ^ The Cambridge ancient history: The fourth century BC by D. M. Lewis, John Boardman,1994, page 427, "The silver coinage of the Tynteni ceased early in the fifth century. The period after 475 was one of comparative poverty, during which contacts were lost"
- ^ it:Messapi
- JSTOR 409430.
- ^ "Thraco Macedonian Tribes, Derrones, ancient coins index with thumbnails - WildWinds.com". wildwinds.com. Retrieved 2017-01-08.
- ISBN 9788603991062.
- ^ "Illyria, Damastion - Ancient Greek Coins - WildWinds.com". wildwinds.com. Retrieved 2017-01-08.
- ^ The Coin collector's manual, or Guide to the numismatic student in the ... By Henry Noel Humphreys page92
- ISBN 99943-672-2-6
- ISBN 99943-672-2-6
- ^ ISBN 9782845163515. Retrieved 2017-01-08.
- ISBN 9781845111670. Retrieved 2017-01-08.
- ^ a b "Culture and Cultural Heritage at the Council of Europe - Homepage" (PDF).
- ISBN 9780631198079. Retrieved 2017-01-08.
- ISBN 0-631-19807-5.
- ^ "www.albca.com/aclis/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=1434". albca.com. Retrieved 2017-01-08.