ILLYRIA. Dyrrhachion. Circa 450-350 BC. Stater (Silver, 21 mm, 10.89 g, 6 h). Cow standing left, head turned right towards calf suckling right below; on the back of the cow, small Δ (an artist's signature?).
Rev. Δ-Y-P Double stellate pattern, divided by line, in double linear square border; below, club. Maier 13. SNG Copenhagen -. C.C. Vermeule: Greek Coins in the Elisabeth Washburn King Collection at Bryn Mawr College, in: NC 6, 16 (1956), 87 (
this coin). A superb, broad and beautifully toned piece, struck on excellent silver and undoubtedly among the finest known. Extremely fine.
From the collection of Baron L. Thyssen-Bornemisza and Dr. T. S. Kaplan, Numismatica Genevensis IX, 14 December 2015, 44, from the Star Collection, Numismatica Ars Classica 48, 21 October 2008, 75 and from the collection of Elisabeth Washburn King, property of the Bryn Mawr college, Christie’s, 11 December 1992, 679, privately purchased from Münzen & Medaillen in 1946 and ex Hess, 28 April 1936, 627 ('Monnaies grecques et romaines d'un amateur étranger').
The types of Dyrrachion - the ancient motive of a cow suckling a calf on the obverse and a double stellate pattern on the reverse - are those of its mother city Korkyra, from where it had been founded in 627 BC as a forward trading post on the Illyrian coast. This very well struck and beautifully toned piece is a particularly impressive example of the early coinage of the city, and certainly among the finest known.
