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.


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.