v34_0222 - CARIA - CARIAN ISLANDS - COS Didrachme

CARIA - CARIAN ISLANDS - COS Didrachme AU

MONNAIES 34 (2008)
Starting price : 850.00 €
Estimate : 1 500.00 €
unsold lot

Type : Didrachme

Date: c. 340

Mint name / Town : Cos

Metal : silver

Diameter : 19 mm

Orientation dies : 12 h.

Weight : 6,75 g.

Rarity : R2

Coments on the condition:

Exemplaire sur un petit flan irrégulier, légèrement décentré sur les légendes au revers. Portraits magnifiques servis par une jolie patine avec des reflets mordorés

Catalogue references :

BMC.- - Cop.621 - Aulock- - B. traité- - GC.- - Dewing2387 - EKC.289

Predigree :

Cet exemplaire provient du trésor de Pixodare (CH. IX. 421), p. 236, n° 37b, pl. 41

Obverse

Obverse legend : ANÉPIGRAPHE.

Obverse description : Tête d’Héraklès barbue à droite, coiffée de la léonté.

Reverse

Reverse legend : NOM DU MAGISTRAT MONÉTAIRE RÉTROGRADE.

Reverse description : Tête féminine voilée à gauche (Déméter).

Reverse legend : KWI[ON]// [BITWN].

Reverse translation : (De Cos/ Biton).

Commentary

Magistrat : Biton. Mêmes coins que l’exemplaire du SNG. Copenhague (Cop. 621).

Historical background

CARIA - CARIAN ISLANDS - COS

(4th century BC)

Cos was originally a Dorian colony from Epidaurus which brought the cult of Asklepios to the island. It is the homeland of Hippocrates, the founder of medicine. Cos was part of the League of Delos and paid tribute to Athens. The founding of a new symmachic capital in 366 BC revived the economic activity which was to last until the Macedonian conquest. Rival of Rhodes and Halicarnassus, the island lost its importance after 333 BC After the death of Alexander the Great, it fell under the domination of Ptolemy. The latter stayed on the island in 309 BC with his wife Berenice and it was there that Ptolemy II Philadelphus was born..