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
Foundation of Dyrrhachion by Greek colonists.
Approximate date when Dyrrhachion comes under the control of Pyrrhos of Epeiros.
Dyrrhachion comes under the control of King Monounios.
Dyrrhachion comes under the control of King Argon of the Ardiai, who fortifies it.
Dyrrhachion comes under Queen Teuta after the death of her husband, Agron.
The Illyrians under Queen Teuta are defeated by the Romans and Dyrrhachion is placed under Demetrios of Pharos.
The Romans defeat the Illyrians again in the Second Illyrian War and Dyrrhachion comes under Roman control.
Pompey forces Julius Caesar to retreat at the Battle of Dyrrhachion.
Julius Caesar, having been repulsed at Dyrrhachion, arrives at Gomphoi but they bar their gates. He takes the city by force.
Augustus makes Dyrrhachion a colony for veterans of the Battle of Actium.