ILLYRIA, Dyrrhachion
AR Stater. 10.61gm, 20.5mm
MINTED: ILLYRIA, Dyrrhachion, circa 340-280 BC
REF: Maier -; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC 17
OBVERSE: Cow standing right, looking back at suckling calf standing right below; bird above.
REVERSE: Δ - Y, double stellate pattern divided by line within linear square border; club above and lizard below; all within linear circle border.
 
Provenance:
Ex CNG Inventory #916382.
 
Grade/Notes:
Good Fine/Almost Very Fine. Bright, clean metal.
A pleasing, weighty silver piece. Charming and rare lizard control symbol.
 
Historical Notes:
Dyrrhachion, present-day Durrës in Albania, was a coastal city founded as Epidamnos in 627 BC by Greek colonists from Corinth and Korkyra.  Its excellent harbour and strategic location allowed it to serve as a hub facilitating trade with the Illyrians of the interior.  Following the city's conquest by Queen Teuta of the Ardiaean kingdom, followed by her capitulation to the Romans in the first of the Illyrian Wars (229-298 BC), Dyrrhachion came firmly under the control of the Roman Republic.  The city continued to prosper under Roman rule, serving as the western terminus of the Via Egnatia, the great road that led on to Thessalonica and Constantinople.  After the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, Emperor Augustus allowed veterans of his legions to settle in Dyrrhachion and proclaimed it a free city.