Description
Heading: Ancient Greek silver drachm 229-100BC
Denomination: Greek Silver drachm
Period: Ancient Greek. classical period
Date: after 229 BC under Roman protection
Origin: Apollonia. type class ALc2b
Condition: Very fine
Obverse: Cow standing left looking back at suckling calf. NIKHN above (moneyers name)
Reverse: APOL AYTO BOY LOY (in Greek Town and then magistrates name AUTOBOULOS) around incurved square containing double stellate pattern
Size and Weight: 19mm. 3.24g
References: Spink 1878var
Features and Provenance: Ancient Illyria. approximates to present day Albania on the Balkan Peninsula. It is believed that there was a shared language between the ‘homeland’ inhabitants. and those who settled across the Adriatic on the shores of southern Italy. These iconic coins are specifically from the Apollonia and Dyrrhachium areas and although the patterns may all look similar. the direction of the cow. the wording and names all indicate when. where and who made them. The significance of the cow and suckling calf is unknown. but the stellate pattern on the reverse is believed to relate to the Dioscuri (Castor and Pollox. the heavenly twins in the constellation of Gemini).
Condition Summary. This varies with the age of coin and there are grades in between
Uncirculated (U). As struck with no traces of wear
Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear. all parts of legend etc present. visible and clear
Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of legend etc present. but maybe worn
Fine (F). Wear on the coin and parts of legend etc may be missing or not visible
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