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
King Monounios was probably the son of King Glaukias of Illyria, who made the unfortunate move of revolting against Alexander. He was defeated and only the revolt of Thebes likely saved his life. Some time later, Glaukias took in the infant Pyrrhos, the rightful heir of Epiros, and resisted the efforts of Kassander, who offered to “buy the kingdom” from him for 200 talents. He later helped install the then young Pyrrhos on the throne of Epiros.
Moving on to Monounios, he took advantage of the power vaccuum when Pyrrhos went on his pillaging vacation in Italy and expanded his kingdom to eventually include Dyrrhachion, where this coin was minted. He also took part in the “Diadochi Games” by supporting Ptolemy Epigonos, son of Lysimachos, against Ptolemy Keraunos.
Monounios’ coinage displays how he slowly took over Dyrrhachion. This coin is among the earliest, when he began with just a monogram on the obverse. Eventually he expanded his influence to include “King Monounios” on the reverse, but in this example it returns the traditional reverse of Dyrrhachion.
His tomb is believed to exist at the Royal Tombs of Selca e Poshtme in modern day Albania. It was robbed in antiquity but there are some reliefs remaining that are believed to depict him. A bronze helmet was found at Lake Ohrid with his name written in a similar fashion to his coins.
In terms of the mint Dyrrhachion, 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
Monounios becomes king of Illyria.
Pyrrhos seizes parts of Illyria from Monounios.
Dyrrhachion comes under the control of King Monounios.
Monounios wages a war against Ptolemy Keraunos while allied with Ptolemy Epigonos.