KINGS OF PAEONIA. Diplaios (?), late 4th century BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 25 mm, 12.42 g, 7 h). Laureate head of Apollo to left. Rev. [Δ]-IΠΛAIO-Y Paeonian horseman, wearing crested helmet and full armor, galloping right and spearing fallen enemy who defends with shield on his left arm. Classical Numismatic Group 96 (2014), 85 (same obverse die). HGC 3.1, -. Paeonian Hoard -. Peykov E3000. Triton XVII (2014), 189 (same obverse die). Extremely rare, the finest of apparently just four known examples. Struck from somewhat worn dies, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.


The tetradrachms naming a Diplaios (not Diplaos!) are a real enigma. It has been suggested that they belong to an otherwise unattested Paeonian king, but this has been disputed, and some view them as mere imitations of the coins issued by Patraos. However, while the style is admittedly rather crude, the reading of the name is sufficiently clear, and one wonders why an imitation would come up with an entirely new name rather than copying that of the prototypes' issuer, Patraos.