Kingdom of Illyria, Monounios
Dyrrhachion
Circa 305-275 BCE
AR stater 21mm 10.57g 5h
Obv: cow standing left, looking back at suckling calf standing right below; monogram above.
Rev: double stellate pattern divided by line, all in double linear square border; ΔYP (P retrograde) and club around; all within linear circle border.
Paškvan-; Maier 34 var. (same); Meadows, CH (forthcoming) 193; SNG Copenhagen-425 var. (orientation of obv.); BMC-29 var. (same).
ex Classical Numismatic Group 2015

Dyrrhachion today is the second largest city in Albania, but it was originally called Epidamnos and was founded by Corinth and Korkyra in the 7th century BCE.

The double stellate pattern on these coins has been the subject of much debate. The real truth is we continue to have no idea, but that hasn’t stopped numerous numismatists from conjecturing. The following have been proposed.

– The garden of Alkinöos, the mythical king of Phaiakia, as described by Homer. It’s believed these gardens were at Korkyra, which colonized Dyrrhachion.

– Random strokes, along the lines of “this looks cool”

– Some religious floral arrangement belonging to a religious cult, most likely to Apollo Aristaios or Nomos

– Not Homer’s garden of Alkinöos, but a separate one at Dyrrhachion

More likely are the beliefs in the obverse, with a cow suckling a calf. These mirror the coinage of Karystos, which is believed to have settled Korkyra, the parent city of Dyrrhachion

627 BCE

Foundation of Dyrrhachion by Greek colonists.

314 BCE

Kassander seizes Dyrrhachion, but the garrison he leaves there is besieged and the city is retaken by Illyrians and Korkyra.

312 BCE

Kassander again attempts to take Dyrrhachion until the city comes under the protection of Glaukias, king of the Illyrians.

295 BCE

Approximate date when Dyrrhachion comes under the control of Pyrrhos of Epeiros.

280 BCE

Dyrrhachion comes under the control of King Monounios.

250 BCE

Dyrrhachion comes under the control of King Argon of the Ardiai, who fortifies it.

231 BCE

Dyrrhachion comes under Queen Teuta after the death of her husband, Agron.

229 BCE

The Illyrians under Queen Teuta are defeated by the Romans and Dyrrhachion is placed under Demetrios of Pharos.

219 BCE

The Romans defeat the Illyrians again in the Second Illyrian War and Dyrrhachion comes under Roman control.

48 BCE

Pompey forces Julius Caesar to retreat at the Battle of Dyrrhachion.

48 BCE

Julius Caesar, having been repulsed at Dyrrhachion, arrives at Gomphoi but they bar their gates. He takes the city by force.

30 BCE

Augustus makes Dyrrhachion a colony for veterans of the Battle of Actium.