Books by Dimitar Draganov
Ex nummis lux. STUDIES IN ANCIENT NUMISMATICS IN HONOUR OF DIMITAR DRAGANOV, 2017
SNG Bulgaria. Numismatic Museum Ruse Collection. Thrace & Moesia Inferior. Volume 2. Apollonia Pontica, 2017
The book presents the most complete study of the enigmatic coinage of the Scythian kings in the N... more The book presents the most complete study of the enigmatic coinage of the Scythian kings in the Northeastern Thrace (mod. Dobrudja). The study includes a complete die-study with a discussion of iconography, denominations, chronology, mint, countermarks and overstrikes, circulation, and forgeries. In all 1,084 coins are catalogued.
Papers by Dimitar Draganov
Klio, Dec 1, 1991
Special attention is paid in numismatic literature to the countermarked coins—bearers of valuable... more Special attention is paid in numismatic literature to the countermarked coins—bearers of valuable information. Up to now, the countermarked coins of the Roman Empire are discussed more thouroughly. The countermarks in the West have been the subject of studies for a long time. The work of Howgego appeared quite recently. It deals with the countermarks in the East and includes also these from the Balkans. That very valuable study shows in an indisputable way the great importance of the evidence the countermarks contain, revealing the economic role of the provincial coinage in the East. The catalogue includes over 850 groups of countermarks applied on over 10000 coins, laying the basis of further studies, dealing with the roman provincial countermarks. Howgego presents the countermarks of Moesia Inferior and Thrace using all published specimens and these kept in the most important numismatic collections in the world. Thus, he managed to register a great number of countermarks from the two provinces and to interprete them successfully. The author, however, is not acquainted with the numismatic materials from Bulgaria and its museums, which results in some lapses in his work. The intention of the present study is to establish new types of countermarks from Moesia Inferior and Thrace, as well as new specimens with well known countermarks, applied on different types of coins, kept in the Jambol historical museum and some other in the country. What is more, an attempt will be made for a summing up commentaries of all countermarks known up till now from the two provinces.
A full co-authored publication of a tetradrachm hoard of 22 specimens (pot hoard) of Apollonia Po... more A full co-authored publication of a tetradrachm hoard of 22 specimens (pot hoard) of Apollonia Pontica, discovered a dozen years ago near the village of Glumche, 6.5 km NE from the town of Karnobat, Burgas region. The locality is some 65 km NW of Sozopol, ancient Apollonia Pontica – the most important Greek city on the Western Black Sea coast. All in all, O1-R1 1. Anonymous – head r.; 24 mm; 17.17g; 12 h, worn. Same dies as Lanz 160 (15.06.2014), lot 106, and as Gorny & Mosch 159 (8.10.2007), lot 60. O1-R2 2. Anonymous – head r.; 23 mm; 17.04g; 6 h, worn, trace of overstriking on rev. Same obv. die as above; different rev. die, the same as Pecunem 18 (1.06.2014), lot 49. O1-R3 3. Magistrate KΛEΙNΙΟ – head r./ name in l. f. ↑; 23/26 mm; 17.07g; 6 h, worn. Same dies as SNG Cop. 455 and KHM Vienna, GR-31618 . O1-R3 4. Magistrate KΛEΙNΙΟ – head r./ name in l. f. ↑; 23/23.5 mm; 17.03g; 6 h, irregular flan, worn. Same dies as above. O1-R3 5. Magistrate KΛEΙNΙΟ – head r./ name in l,f. ↑; 23.5 mm; 17.17g; 6h, overstruck. Same dies as above. O2-R4 6. Magistrate ΗΓΗΜΩΝ – head l./ name in l. f. ↑; 22.5/26.5 mm; 17.06g; 6h; overstruck. Same dies as Lanz 145 (New York, 5.01.2009), lot 14. O2-R5 7. Magistrate ΚΩΛΩΤΗΣ – head l./ name in l. f. ↑; 23/24 mm; 17.14g; 12h, rev. die shift. Same dies as Sternberg 27 (7-8.11.1994), lot 124 = Lanz 74 (20.11.1995), lot 115, and NAC 29 (11.05.2005), lot 165. O2-R6 8. Magistrate KΛEOKPATH[Σ] – head l./ name in l. f. ↑; 22/24 mm; 17.10g; 6 h. Same dies as Hourmouziadis collection, SHH 3810 (from Triton X (8.01.2007), lot 113) and The Prospero collection, New York Sale XXVII (4.01.2012), lot 237. O2-R6 9. Magistrate [KΛE]OKPATHΣ – head l./ name in l. f. ↑; 22/24 mm; 17.15g; 6 h. Same dies as above. O2-R6 10. Magistrate KΛEOKPATHΣ – head l./ name in l. f. ↑; 24.5 mm; 17.03g; 6h, rev. double struck. Same dies as above. O2-R6 11. Magistrate [K]ΛEOKPATHΣ – head l./ name in l. f. ↑; 23 mm; 17.18g; 6h. Same dies as above. O2-R7 12. Magistrate [Z]ΩΠΥΡ[OΣ] – head l./ name in l. f. ↑, 22.5 mm; 17.03g; 6h. Same dies as SNG Berry I, 393 . O2-R7 13. Magistrate ZΩΠΥΡOΣ – head l./ name in l. f. ↑; 23/24 mm; 17.13g; 6h, obv. die shift. Same dies as no. 12. O2-R7 14. Magistrate ZΩΠΥΡ[OΣ] – head l./ name in l. f. ↑; 22.5/23.5 mm; 17.07 g; 6h. Same dies as no. 12. O3-R8 15. Magistrate KΛEΙNΙAΣ – head l./ name in l. f. ↑. 23.5/27 mm; 17.06g; 12h, large flan, rev. die shift. Same dies as State Hermitage 4525 , and NAC 66 (17.10.2012), lot 38. O3-R9 16. Magistrate ΔIOΓENH[Σ] – head l./ name in l. f. ↑; 22/23.5 mm; 17.17g; 12h. Obv. die, same as KΛEΙNΙAΣ; same rev. die as Helios 7 (12.12.2011), lot 10. O4-R10 17. Magistrate ΑΘΗΝΑΙΟΣ – head l./ name in l. f. ↑; 24.5/24 mm; 16.99 g; 12h; overstruck. Obv. die, same as KΛEΙNΙAΣ, unlisted rev. die. O4-R11 18. Magistrate [Λ]ΕΟΝΤΙΣΚ[ΟΣ] – head l./ name in r. f. ↓; 25/22.5 mm; 17.07 g; 12h. Obv. die, same as KΛEΙNΙAΣ, unlisted rev. die. O5-R12 19. Magistrate [Π]ΟΛΥAN[AΞ] – head r./ name in l. f. ↑; 23/22 mm; 17.02g; 6 h. Same rev. die as Fitzwilliam CM.MC.4431-R , and Winterthur G-1159 . O6-R13 20. Magistrate ΛΕΩΠΡΕΠΗΣ – head l./ name in l. f. ↑; 23/23.5 mm; 17.13 g; 12h, overstruck. Same dies as Triton XV (3.01.2011), lot 1089. O6-R14 21. Magistrate [Δ]HMOΥХOΣ – head l./ name in r. f. ↓; 20.5/23 mm; 16.97g; 6h, A and crayfish replaced. Same dies as CNG 58 (19.09.2001), lot 347 . O6-R14 22. Magistrate ΔHMOΥХOΣ – head l./ name in r. f. ↓; 21/24 mm; 17.11g; 6h, A and crayfish replaced. Same dies as above no. 21. Discussion The new deposit from Eastern Bulgaria contains solely 22 tetradrachms of Apollonia Pontica, all of the same type and design as previously known (since Tacchella 1903, p. 40-42; Head 1911, p. 278; McClean 4431; SNG Cop. 455; SNG Berry 393, SNG BM Black Sea 164-165, etc.). The iconography features the classic civic emblems of Apollonia Pontica – an inverted anchor with a crayfish and letter A under the flukes, and a head of Apollo, the city’s patron – on the obverse. This find is of major importance for Classical Greek numismatics since no such hoard has hitherto been documented or published. Previously, there were only a few unconfirmed reports on hoards of Apollonia Pontica tetradrachms, none of them listed in IGCH or CH. For example, in 1971 in the environs of the city of Varna a hoard of 3+ tetradrachms of Apollonia has been reported. Today two specimens from it are known. One was in the collection of the late Dr. Vassil Haralanov (in 1975 donated to the Museum of Shumen). The second specimen, signed by magistrate AΘΗNAΙOΣ, is now kept in the National History Museum in Sofia. Altogether, 12 names of Apolloniate officials responsible for coinage occur on the 22 tetradrachms from the new hoard from Glumche, as follows (in chronological order): 1. Anonymous (no magistrate name): 2 specimens (Total known: 4); 2. KΛEΙNΙΟ (Κλεινίο) : 3 specimens (Total: 7); 3. ΗΓΗΜΩΝ (Ἡγημων) : 1 specimen (Total: 2); 4. ΚΩΛΩΤΗΣ (Kωλώτης) : 1 specimen (Total: 5);…
Klio, 1984
Seit l angem ruft die Münzprägung irn Auftrag Alexanders des Großen ein nachha l t iges Interesse... more Seit l angem ruft die Münzprägung irn Auftrag Alexanders des Großen ein nachha l t iges Interesse seitens der Fachwissenschaft ler hervor, Zahlreiche Untersuchungen zu dieser Frage haben zu beachtl ichen Ergebnissen geführt . 1 Da die Münzprägungen aber nach Umfang und Intensi tät ihresgleichen in der Geschichte der a n t i k e n Numismat ik suchen, sind manche ihrer Probleme nicht zufriedenstel lend gelöst. Dies betrifft besonders die Lesung mancher Symbole und zusätzlicher Zeichen sowie die sichere und genaue Identif iz ierung und Lokal is ierung der Münzstät ten. Unser besonderes Interesse erwecken die Si lbermünzen (Drachmen und Tetradrachmen) Alexanders des Großen, auf denen zu Füßen des Zeus eine k l e ine Artemisf igur mit zwei langen brennenden Fackeln e ingraviert ist . Müller zählt d iese Münzen zur Münzstät te in Perinthos.'-' Derart ige Si lbermünzen kommen im großen Schatz von Demanhur (Ägypten)n , im , ,Katakomben-Scha tz ' 1 , im Schatz von !Bab (gegenwärt ig im Besitz der Yale-University)-"1 sowie in den Sammlungen Lockett ,0 , Weber 7 und anderen 8 vor. Nach St i l , Metrologie usw. sowie ohne den Titel Β Α Σ Ι Λ Ε Ω Σ gehören sie zweifelsfrei in die Zeit Alexanders des Großen. T. Gerassimov bemerkt nebenbei , daß derart ige Tetradrachmen von E. T. Newell zu den Münzprägungen von Lampsakos an der as iat ischen Propontiski is ten gerechnet werden. In Wirk l ichke i t h a t Newell in seiner ersten Publ ikat ion des eindrucksvollen Schatzes von Demanhur die Münzstät te dieser Geldstücke nicht best immen können. Neben zahlreichen anderen Tetradrach-
Klio, 1991
Special attention is paid in numismatic literature to the countermarked coins—bearers of valuable... more Special attention is paid in numismatic literature to the countermarked coins—bearers of valuable information. Up to now, the countermarked coins of the Roman Empire are discussed more thouroughly. The countermarks in the West have been the subject of studies for a long time. The work of Howgego appeared quite recently. It deals with the countermarks in the East and includes also these from the Balkans. That very valuable study shows in an indisputable way the great importance of the evidence the countermarks contain, revealing the economic role of the provincial coinage in the East. The catalogue includes over 850 groups of countermarks applied on over 10000 coins, laying the basis of further studies, dealing with the roman provincial countermarks. Howgego presents the countermarks of Moesia Inferior and Thrace using all published specimens and these kept in the most important numismatic collections in the world. Thus, he managed to register a great number of countermarks from the two provinces and to interprete them successfully. The author, however, is not acquainted with the numismatic materials from Bulgaria and its museums, which results in some lapses in his work. The intention of the present study is to establish new types of countermarks from Moesia Inferior and Thrace, as well as new specimens with well known countermarks, applied on different types of coins, kept in the Jambol historical museum and some other in the country. What is more, an attempt will be made for a summing up commentaries of all countermarks known up till now from the two provinces.
Numismatic Chronicle, 1991
XaTTpœs and the town is sufficiently close to Hispalis to allow Strabo's comment that it outs... more XaTTpœs and the town is sufficiently close to Hispalis to allow Strabo's comment that it outshone this town to make sense. It seems therefore that Strabo's manuscript can be best amended to read * '/raAi/ca. The confusion in the manuscript probably arose because Strabo, after this sentence, immediately goes on to discuss Italica again,15 leading a copyist to think a mistake had been made in the transmission of the text here. However Strabo's account probably relies on a list of towns from an earlier source,16 in which, quite rationally, Italica, followed immediately after Hispalis. Strabo added a personal gloss concerning the recent settlement at Italica to his source's comments on Hispalis to order to make his own account more up to date, and consequently reverted to the order of towns found in his original source. The result is that Strabo appears to be repeating himself, but in fact is only guilty of poor editing. The Italican semisses therefore give us an unusual opportunity to correct a literary text on the basis of numismatic evidence.
Jahrbuch für Wirtschaftsgeschichte / Economic History Yearbook, 1983
Bulletin of the National Institute of Archaeology XLVI, 2020. Carissimae Magistrate Grato Animo - In Memoriam Yordanka Youroukova, 2020
Dionysopolis and the Scythian King Ateas
Dimitar Draganov
(Summary)
In 340 BC the city of Diony... more Dionysopolis and the Scythian King Ateas
Dimitar Draganov
(Summary)
In 340 BC the city of Dionysopolis produced the coin type “head of Dionysus, ΔΙ/Scythian horseman (Ateas)” by overstriking bronze coins of Philip II (“head of Apollo/horseman”). The issue was not intended for regular commerse, but was struck in haste for political reasons, probably a visit of Ateas to Dionysopolis. After the death of Ateas, in the spring/summer of 339 BC, the issue was immediately recalled and simultaneously overstruck with a pair of countermarks (one for the obverse, one for the reverse), again for political reasons. It was a special one-time issue and cannot be considered the beginning of the regular autonomous coinage of Dionysopolis.
The conclusions of this article can be summarized as follows:
- There is no coin type “head of Ateas l./bunch of grapes, ΔΙ”. The proper attribution of this coin type of Dionysopolis is “head of Pan/bunch of grapes, ΔΙ”.
- The type “head of Pan/bunch of grapes, ΔΙ” is a regular autonomous coin of Dionysopolis and is not related to either Saratokos or Ateas.
- The type “kantharos/vine with a bunch on grapes” belongs to Corcyra, not to Dionysopolis.
- The renaming of Krounoi into Dionysopolis happened before 340 BC, likely in the period from ca. 393 – 340 BC.
It is amazing how these poorly preserved coins of the type of head of Dionysus, ΔΙ/Scythian horseman (Ateas) prove to be carriers of valuable numismatic and hence real historical information that cannot be obtained from any other sources.
ANNUAL OF THE NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM Vol. ХIV, 2020 In memoriam Ivani Venedikov, 2020
The silver of Sariakes and the end of the Second Scythian
Kingdom in Dobrudzha
Dimitar Draganov... more The silver of Sariakes and the end of the Second Scythian
Kingdom in Dobrudzha
Dimitar Draganov
(summary)
In ca. 180 BC Sariakes assumed power over the Scythian Kingdom. He is mentioned in the well-known inscription found in 1981 in the area of Cape Kaliakra (Tirizis). The inscription says that a person named Antigonus, a Macedonian from Styberra, resided for some time at the court of Sariakes. He was likely a special envoy of the Macedonian King Philip V (221 – 179 BC), who had been sent to arrange the secure
passing of the Bastarne (a tribe employed by Philip V to invade Dardania), through the lands of the Scythians in Dobrudzha. It is suggested that a formal treaty between the Macedonian King and Sariakes was concluded and in 179 BC, the Bastarne successfully
crossed Dobrudzha on their way to Macedonia and Dardania.
Soon after the passage of the Bastarne, Sariakes surprisingly struck a series of silver coins. Possibly, the silver used by Sariakes to produce his silver issue was a reward from Philip V for allowing the passage of the Bastarne.
Numismatic evidence suggests that Sariakes was paid about 10 talents of silver (ca. 262 kg) for his cooperation, much of which he used to strike coins.
The silver coins with the name of Sariakes can be identified as drachms on the Chian-Rhodian weight standard (with an average weight of 3.71 g per coin). The obverse of this issue depicts Apollo with laurel wreath, and the reverse depict a bow in quiver, club and corn ear. This issue was considered rare, but this is no longer the case. There are now three obverse and nine reverse dies known, which must have produced a significant number of coins.
Most probably the reverse type of Sariakes was adapted from the silver coins of Callatis, the only difference being the arrangement of attributes.
The political situation at the time of Sariakes was very dynamic and changed suddenly in the autumn of 179 BC when Philip V died at Amphipolis. After his death some of the Bastarne troops returned home to the Danube delta but another part, led by Clondicus, continued their journey and reached Dardania.
After a dozen years of wandering around Illyria and after unsuccessful negotiations with the Macedonian King Perseus (son of Philip V) about the price at which they would agree to be employed as mercenaries, the Bastarne of Clondicus headed back to the Danube, plundering and destroying the local Thracian settlements. It is likely that around 168 – 167 BC Sariakes led a Scythian army to confront the marauding Bastarne
and he died in battle.
This ended the Second Scythian Kingdom in Northeast Thrace (Dobrudzha), which lasted for about 50 years (ca. 218 – 168/7 BC).
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Books by Dimitar Draganov
Papers by Dimitar Draganov
Dimitar Draganov
(Summary)
In 340 BC the city of Dionysopolis produced the coin type “head of Dionysus, ΔΙ/Scythian horseman (Ateas)” by overstriking bronze coins of Philip II (“head of Apollo/horseman”). The issue was not intended for regular commerse, but was struck in haste for political reasons, probably a visit of Ateas to Dionysopolis. After the death of Ateas, in the spring/summer of 339 BC, the issue was immediately recalled and simultaneously overstruck with a pair of countermarks (one for the obverse, one for the reverse), again for political reasons. It was a special one-time issue and cannot be considered the beginning of the regular autonomous coinage of Dionysopolis.
The conclusions of this article can be summarized as follows:
- There is no coin type “head of Ateas l./bunch of grapes, ΔΙ”. The proper attribution of this coin type of Dionysopolis is “head of Pan/bunch of grapes, ΔΙ”.
- The type “head of Pan/bunch of grapes, ΔΙ” is a regular autonomous coin of Dionysopolis and is not related to either Saratokos or Ateas.
- The type “kantharos/vine with a bunch on grapes” belongs to Corcyra, not to Dionysopolis.
- The renaming of Krounoi into Dionysopolis happened before 340 BC, likely in the period from ca. 393 – 340 BC.
It is amazing how these poorly preserved coins of the type of head of Dionysus, ΔΙ/Scythian horseman (Ateas) prove to be carriers of valuable numismatic and hence real historical information that cannot be obtained from any other sources.
Kingdom in Dobrudzha
Dimitar Draganov
(summary)
In ca. 180 BC Sariakes assumed power over the Scythian Kingdom. He is mentioned in the well-known inscription found in 1981 in the area of Cape Kaliakra (Tirizis). The inscription says that a person named Antigonus, a Macedonian from Styberra, resided for some time at the court of Sariakes. He was likely a special envoy of the Macedonian King Philip V (221 – 179 BC), who had been sent to arrange the secure
passing of the Bastarne (a tribe employed by Philip V to invade Dardania), through the lands of the Scythians in Dobrudzha. It is suggested that a formal treaty between the Macedonian King and Sariakes was concluded and in 179 BC, the Bastarne successfully
crossed Dobrudzha on their way to Macedonia and Dardania.
Soon after the passage of the Bastarne, Sariakes surprisingly struck a series of silver coins. Possibly, the silver used by Sariakes to produce his silver issue was a reward from Philip V for allowing the passage of the Bastarne.
Numismatic evidence suggests that Sariakes was paid about 10 talents of silver (ca. 262 kg) for his cooperation, much of which he used to strike coins.
The silver coins with the name of Sariakes can be identified as drachms on the Chian-Rhodian weight standard (with an average weight of 3.71 g per coin). The obverse of this issue depicts Apollo with laurel wreath, and the reverse depict a bow in quiver, club and corn ear. This issue was considered rare, but this is no longer the case. There are now three obverse and nine reverse dies known, which must have produced a significant number of coins.
Most probably the reverse type of Sariakes was adapted from the silver coins of Callatis, the only difference being the arrangement of attributes.
The political situation at the time of Sariakes was very dynamic and changed suddenly in the autumn of 179 BC when Philip V died at Amphipolis. After his death some of the Bastarne troops returned home to the Danube delta but another part, led by Clondicus, continued their journey and reached Dardania.
After a dozen years of wandering around Illyria and after unsuccessful negotiations with the Macedonian King Perseus (son of Philip V) about the price at which they would agree to be employed as mercenaries, the Bastarne of Clondicus headed back to the Danube, plundering and destroying the local Thracian settlements. It is likely that around 168 – 167 BC Sariakes led a Scythian army to confront the marauding Bastarne
and he died in battle.
This ended the Second Scythian Kingdom in Northeast Thrace (Dobrudzha), which lasted for about 50 years (ca. 218 – 168/7 BC).
Dimitar Draganov
(Summary)
In 340 BC the city of Dionysopolis produced the coin type “head of Dionysus, ΔΙ/Scythian horseman (Ateas)” by overstriking bronze coins of Philip II (“head of Apollo/horseman”). The issue was not intended for regular commerse, but was struck in haste for political reasons, probably a visit of Ateas to Dionysopolis. After the death of Ateas, in the spring/summer of 339 BC, the issue was immediately recalled and simultaneously overstruck with a pair of countermarks (one for the obverse, one for the reverse), again for political reasons. It was a special one-time issue and cannot be considered the beginning of the regular autonomous coinage of Dionysopolis.
The conclusions of this article can be summarized as follows:
- There is no coin type “head of Ateas l./bunch of grapes, ΔΙ”. The proper attribution of this coin type of Dionysopolis is “head of Pan/bunch of grapes, ΔΙ”.
- The type “head of Pan/bunch of grapes, ΔΙ” is a regular autonomous coin of Dionysopolis and is not related to either Saratokos or Ateas.
- The type “kantharos/vine with a bunch on grapes” belongs to Corcyra, not to Dionysopolis.
- The renaming of Krounoi into Dionysopolis happened before 340 BC, likely in the period from ca. 393 – 340 BC.
It is amazing how these poorly preserved coins of the type of head of Dionysus, ΔΙ/Scythian horseman (Ateas) prove to be carriers of valuable numismatic and hence real historical information that cannot be obtained from any other sources.
Kingdom in Dobrudzha
Dimitar Draganov
(summary)
In ca. 180 BC Sariakes assumed power over the Scythian Kingdom. He is mentioned in the well-known inscription found in 1981 in the area of Cape Kaliakra (Tirizis). The inscription says that a person named Antigonus, a Macedonian from Styberra, resided for some time at the court of Sariakes. He was likely a special envoy of the Macedonian King Philip V (221 – 179 BC), who had been sent to arrange the secure
passing of the Bastarne (a tribe employed by Philip V to invade Dardania), through the lands of the Scythians in Dobrudzha. It is suggested that a formal treaty between the Macedonian King and Sariakes was concluded and in 179 BC, the Bastarne successfully
crossed Dobrudzha on their way to Macedonia and Dardania.
Soon after the passage of the Bastarne, Sariakes surprisingly struck a series of silver coins. Possibly, the silver used by Sariakes to produce his silver issue was a reward from Philip V for allowing the passage of the Bastarne.
Numismatic evidence suggests that Sariakes was paid about 10 talents of silver (ca. 262 kg) for his cooperation, much of which he used to strike coins.
The silver coins with the name of Sariakes can be identified as drachms on the Chian-Rhodian weight standard (with an average weight of 3.71 g per coin). The obverse of this issue depicts Apollo with laurel wreath, and the reverse depict a bow in quiver, club and corn ear. This issue was considered rare, but this is no longer the case. There are now three obverse and nine reverse dies known, which must have produced a significant number of coins.
Most probably the reverse type of Sariakes was adapted from the silver coins of Callatis, the only difference being the arrangement of attributes.
The political situation at the time of Sariakes was very dynamic and changed suddenly in the autumn of 179 BC when Philip V died at Amphipolis. After his death some of the Bastarne troops returned home to the Danube delta but another part, led by Clondicus, continued their journey and reached Dardania.
After a dozen years of wandering around Illyria and after unsuccessful negotiations with the Macedonian King Perseus (son of Philip V) about the price at which they would agree to be employed as mercenaries, the Bastarne of Clondicus headed back to the Danube, plundering and destroying the local Thracian settlements. It is likely that around 168 – 167 BC Sariakes led a Scythian army to confront the marauding Bastarne
and he died in battle.
This ended the Second Scythian Kingdom in Northeast Thrace (Dobrudzha), which lasted for about 50 years (ca. 218 – 168/7 BC).
All in all, O1-R1 1. Anonymous – head r.; 24 mm; 17.17g; 12 h, worn. Same dies as Lanz 160 (15.06.2014), lot 106, and as Gorny & Mosch 159 (8.10.2007), lot 60.
O1-R2 2. Anonymous – head r.; 23 mm; 17.04g; 6 h, worn, trace of overstriking on rev. Same obv. die as above; different rev. die, the same as Pecunem 18 (1.06.2014), lot 49.
O1-R3 3. Magistrate KΛEΙNΙΟ – head r./ name in l. f. ↑; 23/26 mm; 17.07g; 6 h, worn. Same dies as SNG Cop. 455 and KHM Vienna, GR-31618 .
O1-R3 4. Magistrate KΛEΙNΙΟ – head r./ name in l. f. ↑; 23/23.5 mm; 17.03g; 6 h, irregular flan, worn. Same dies as above.
O1-R3 5. Magistrate KΛEΙNΙΟ – head r./ name in l,f. ↑; 23.5 mm; 17.17g; 6h, overstruck. Same dies as above.
O2-R4 6. Magistrate ΗΓΗΜΩΝ – head l./ name in l. f. ↑; 22.5/26.5 mm; 17.06g; 6h; overstruck. Same dies as Lanz 145 (New York, 5.01.2009), lot 14.
O2-R5 7. Magistrate ΚΩΛΩΤΗΣ – head l./ name in l. f. ↑; 23/24 mm; 17.14g; 12h, rev. die shift. Same dies as Sternberg 27 (7-8.11.1994), lot 124 = Lanz 74 (20.11.1995), lot 115, and NAC 29 (11.05.2005), lot 165.
O2-R6 8. Magistrate KΛEOKPATH[Σ] – head l./ name in l. f. ↑; 22/24 mm; 17.10g; 6 h. Same dies as Hourmouziadis collection, SHH 3810 (from Triton X (8.01.2007), lot 113) and The Prospero collection, New York Sale XXVII (4.01.2012), lot 237.
O2-R6 9. Magistrate [KΛE]OKPATHΣ – head l./ name in l. f. ↑; 22/24 mm; 17.15g; 6 h. Same dies as above.
O2-R6 10. Magistrate KΛEOKPATHΣ – head l./ name in l. f. ↑; 24.5 mm; 17.03g; 6h, rev. double struck. Same dies as above.
O2-R6 11. Magistrate [K]ΛEOKPATHΣ – head l./ name in l. f. ↑; 23 mm; 17.18g; 6h. Same dies as above.
O2-R7 12. Magistrate [Z]ΩΠΥΡ[OΣ] – head l./ name in l. f. ↑, 22.5 mm; 17.03g; 6h. Same dies as SNG Berry I, 393 .
O2-R7 13. Magistrate ZΩΠΥΡOΣ – head l./ name in l. f. ↑; 23/24 mm; 17.13g; 6h, obv. die shift. Same dies as no. 12.
O2-R7 14. Magistrate ZΩΠΥΡ[OΣ] – head l./ name in l. f. ↑; 22.5/23.5 mm; 17.07 g; 6h. Same dies as no. 12.
O3-R8 15. Magistrate KΛEΙNΙAΣ – head l./ name in l. f. ↑. 23.5/27 mm; 17.06g; 12h, large flan, rev. die shift. Same dies as State Hermitage 4525 , and NAC 66 (17.10.2012), lot 38.
O3-R9 16. Magistrate ΔIOΓENH[Σ] – head l./ name in l. f. ↑; 22/23.5 mm; 17.17g; 12h. Obv. die, same as KΛEΙNΙAΣ; same rev. die as Helios 7 (12.12.2011), lot 10.
O4-R10 17. Magistrate ΑΘΗΝΑΙΟΣ – head l./ name in l. f. ↑; 24.5/24 mm; 16.99 g; 12h; overstruck. Obv. die, same as KΛEΙNΙAΣ, unlisted rev. die.
O4-R11 18. Magistrate [Λ]ΕΟΝΤΙΣΚ[ΟΣ] – head l./ name in r. f. ↓; 25/22.5 mm; 17.07 g; 12h. Obv. die, same as KΛEΙNΙAΣ, unlisted rev. die.
O5-R12 19. Magistrate [Π]ΟΛΥAN[AΞ] – head r./ name in l. f. ↑; 23/22 mm; 17.02g; 6 h. Same rev. die as Fitzwilliam CM.MC.4431-R , and Winterthur G-1159 .
O6-R13 20. Magistrate ΛΕΩΠΡΕΠΗΣ – head l./ name in l. f. ↑; 23/23.5 mm; 17.13 g; 12h, overstruck. Same dies as Triton XV (3.01.2011), lot 1089.
O6-R14 21. Magistrate [Δ]HMOΥХOΣ – head l./ name in r. f. ↓; 20.5/23 mm; 16.97g; 6h, A and crayfish replaced. Same dies as CNG 58 (19.09.2001), lot 347 .
O6-R14 22. Magistrate ΔHMOΥХOΣ – head l./ name in r. f. ↓; 21/24 mm; 17.11g; 6h, A and crayfish replaced. Same dies as above no. 21.
Discussion
The new deposit from Eastern Bulgaria contains solely 22 tetradrachms of Apollonia Pontica, all of the same type and design as previously known (since Tacchella 1903, p. 40-42; Head 1911, p. 278; McClean 4431; SNG Cop. 455; SNG Berry 393, SNG BM Black Sea 164-165, etc.). The iconography features the classic civic emblems of Apollonia Pontica – an inverted anchor with a crayfish and letter A under the flukes, and a head of Apollo, the city’s patron – on the obverse.
This find is of major importance for Classical Greek numismatics since no such hoard has hitherto been documented or published. Previously, there were only a few unconfirmed reports on hoards of Apollonia Pontica tetradrachms, none of them listed in IGCH or CH. For example, in 1971 in the environs of the city of Varna a hoard of 3+ tetradrachms of Apollonia has been reported. Today two specimens from it are known. One was in the collection of the late Dr. Vassil Haralanov (in 1975 donated to the Museum of Shumen). The second specimen, signed by magistrate AΘΗNAΙOΣ, is now kept in the National History Museum in Sofia.
Altogether, 12 names of Apolloniate officials responsible for coinage occur on the 22 tetradrachms from the new hoard from Glumche, as follows (in chronological order):
1. Anonymous (no magistrate name): 2 specimens (Total known: 4);
2. KΛEΙNΙΟ (Κλεινίο) : 3 specimens (Total: 7);
3. ΗΓΗΜΩΝ (Ἡγημων) : 1 specimen (Total: 2);
4. ΚΩΛΩΤΗΣ (Kωλώτης) : 1 specimen (Total: 5);
5. KΛEOKPATHΣ (Κλεοκράτης) : 4 specimens (Total: 8);
6. ZΩΠΥΡOΣ (Zωπύρος) : 3 specimens (Total: 13);
7. ΔIOΓENHΣ (Διογένης) : 1 specimen (Total: 3);
8. KΛEΙNΙAΣ (Κλεινίας) : 1 specimen (Total: 5)
9. ΑΘΗΝΑΙΟΣ, var. 2 (Ἀθήναιoς) : 1 specimen (Total: 1);
10. [Λ]ΕΟΝΤΙΣΚ[ΟΣ] (Λεοντίσκος) : 1 specimen (Total: 1);
11. ΠΟΛΥANAΞ (Πολυάναξ) : 1 specimen (Total: 4);
12. ΛΕΩΠΡΕΠΗΣ (Λεωπρεπης) : 1 specimen (Total: 3);
13. ΔHMOΥХOΣ (Δημoῦχος) : 2 specimens (Total: 4).
The frequent sharing of obverse dies among different but consecutive civic magistrates clearly shows the small size of the entire tetradrachm coinage of Apollonia Pontica. Even more interesting, in a few cases the reverse die of an earlier moneyer was recut by an engraver and re-used for his successor. Overstriking also occurs in a number of cases – Apollonia on Apollonia.
Chronology
What follows are a few preliminary notes about the chronology of the tetradrachm series. No work on the relative and absolute chronology of the coinage of Apollonia Pontica has yet been published. But the tetradrachms have in the past been tentatively dated to the late 5th century BC, or to the first half of the 4th century.
A fourth century date would conflict with the currently available numismatic evidence. We suggest that the tetradrachm coinage should predate the year 405/4 BC, the final date of Athenian control over the Straits and the Black Sea, and that the 39 extant issues of Apolloniate magistrates would fit comfortably into the period ca. 442/1 to 405/4 BC. This is clearly supported by the weight standard (full Attic) of the entire tetradrachm series, as well as by their close similarity in style and production technique (incuse square with sharp or rounded corners) to those of other neighbouring coinages, e.g. the tetradrachms of Ainos of Period II (ca. 435/4–405/4 BC ), the tetradrachms of Maroneia of Period V (436/35–411/10 BC ), and also the Athenian tetradrachms dated to 454–405/4 BC. Furthermore, we assume that the reason for the introduction of the tetradrachm coinage was Apollonia Pontica’s membership in the Delian League and the need to pay the annual tribute to the Athenian arche. This was closely related to the Pericles’ Pontic expedition and Athens’ development of its grain trade from the Black Sea.
The rarity of tetradrachm series of Apollonia Pontica (125 specimens are known so far) is explained by the fact that they were produced in small quantity. Moreover, as we have seen, older series were overstruck by later magistrates at Apollonia.
Burial date of the Glumche hoard
For the present, we can do little more than speculate about the possible date of concealment. It should doubtless lie soon after 405/4 BC and the events after the end of the Peloponnesian war. Further research should demonstrate that the Glumche hoard will mark an important milestone in any future study of the entire coinage of Apollonia Pontica as well as a contribution to research into Classical Greek coinage in general.
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