I am very happy getting this silver oktobol from Pyrrhos, for my Epeiros collection a great addition. It is my most expensive coin so far, the condition of the coin is not amazing but with my current budget I can not get EF condition of this coin as they can go for 1000-1500 dollars. It is also beautifully toned, the kind of 'old collection' toning. Syracuse, Sicily - Pyrrhos AR Oktobol (278–276 B.C.) Obverse: Head of Persephone to left, wearing wreath of grain leaves and pendant earrings; poppy seed behind. Reverse: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ - ΠΥΡΡΟΥ; Athena Alkidemos advancing left, brandishing spear with her right hand and holding shield aloft in her left. Share your opinions and post your Pyrrhos coins
Congrats Pavlos, very nice, I'll guess its a silver coin, around 6 gram / 20 mm ? looks bronze in your picture. Here's mine:
Great coin! That one is on my wishlist for sure. Yes it is silver, but it got old collection toning, that is why it is not bright silver color. The weight is 5.20g and 20mm. And nice coin! I love the obverse, great portrait.
BEAUTIFUL Persephone! Strong reverse as wellA similar reverse but I believe mine has a Hera obverse... Followed by a couple of my favorite Greek conqueror not named Alexander or Philip ii (that is if you count those scrubby Makedonians as Greek at all). Argolis, Argos Æ Dichalkon. Circa 280- 270/60 BCE Head of Hera right, wearing stephane inscribed APΓE / Athena Promachos left. BCD Peloponnesos 1100-4; 3.90g, 18mm, 6h Pyrrhus (278-276 BCE) Sicily, Syracuse, AE 23mm 10.25 gr, head of young Herakles left, wearing lion's skin, rev. Athena Promachos advancing right (SNG ANS 852), attractive smooth green patina, good very fin
Very cool coin @Pavlos congrats on the new addition. I would love to add a coin of his to my collection. I think Pyrrhos is one of the most interesting people from the era of the Diadochi. While he was a great general he was a horrible king, unable to maintain what he won on the battlefield.
Great coins! The dichalkon from Argos looks very interesting, I like the portrait with the stephane. Who knows I get such a coin ever in my lifetime: Pyrrhos. 297-272 BC. AR Tetradrachm But I don't think so, they cost a fortune. Hannibal said he was after Alexander the great, the 2nd best general. And indeed he was a great general, but with too much ambition. He already made a big mistake going to Sicily to fight Carthage, how could he have possibly thought he could fight both the Romans and the Carthaginians and win, both being two great powers and Pyrrhos army containing mostly mercenary troops and his treasury declining over time. He should have stayed and focused in Southern Italy. Then after his 'defeat' at Italy, he chased his ambition again to become King of Macedonia, then his ambition to control the Peloponnese by interfering with Sparta and Argos which let to his son dying in Sparta and himself laying dead in the streets Argos. He wanted too much at once, he couldn't maintain focus and that led to his utter defeat. If he focused in Southern Italy who knows what he could have done. What I hate most about Greek history, is brothers fighting brothers rather then brothers fighting the common enemies. If all Greece unified and together fought the rising Roman Republic, guaranteed they would have won. However, after the death of Alexander and so many Generals having great ambitions, it is impossible this could have happened. Who knows what would have happened if Alexander lived longer...
Very nice Oktobol @Pavlos ! Looks great, and nice write-up (above post) about Pyrrhos. Agreed, he would had been incredibly successful had he truly focused. He had a LOT of competition fighting the Romans, but the Romans would have CONTINUALLY gone after him over and over... wearing his army and resources down. PYRRHOS: Syracuse Sicily Pyrrhus 278-275 BCE AE 24mm 9.2g HeraklesHd - Athena Promachos SG1213 LE584 Syracuse Sicily Pyrrhus Epirus 278-276 BCE AE Litra 11.4g 23.3mm Herakles Nemaean Lion scalp - Athena Promachos thunderbolt shield SNG Cop 813, SNG ANS 852