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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Curtisimo, post: 8152677, member: 83845&quot;]Absolutely fascinating thoughts SA. One question that comes to mind if these staters are related to a place or a city is what purpose would they have served in that context? As we discussed in our PM it is pretty certain that this entire series was struck with 3 obverse dies at either different times or different mints. The obverse dies do not share reverse dies (I’m still working on confirming this for myself). The fact that such a large number of these survive into today in mint state despite the 3 dies (=low mintage) suggests that these coins didn’t circulate and were buried soon after striking.</p><p><br /></p><p>The only reason I can think of for a coin being marked as “from ____ (place)” is if the coins were meant to circulate commercially outside that place which doesn’t seem to be the case here.</p><p><br /></p><p>I honestly love the Buridava / Kosa theory and I think the possibility raises the question of how we could then explain so many of these coins from a relatively small settlement surviving into today. Is there evidence of a sudden abandonment or sack of the city that might have led it to bury its treasury? Perhaps these were struck as tribute that was never paid?</p><p><br /></p><p>In at least one hoard (Tarsa - 523 coins) all three obverse dies appear together in the following percentages.</p><p>Complex monogram = 48.7%</p><p>Simple monogram = 45.9%</p><p>No monogram = 5.4%</p><p>Perhaps this suggests separate mints under the same authority instead of striking at different times? Perhaps multiple officinae?</p><p><br /></p><p>I once read an estimate on how many coins in various metals could be struck with a single obverse or reverse die. I can’t seem to find it now though.&nbsp; Thoughts? 50,000 per obverse die?</p><p><br /></p><p>Promised OP update still coming!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I did read that and think it is interesting. I looked at some examples of the coin type for Cassius mentioned in the Calgary article.</p><p><br /></p><p>The surfaces of my Koson example do have a unique texture from my experience. I tried to compare with the Cassius coins noted but I was not able to see a strong enough resemblance to consider the coin fabric definitely related. That could just be a product of the limits of comparison through photography. Someone who has studied both of these in hand would obviously be in a better position to comment. Anyone have a higher res photo of a mint state Cassius??? <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie86" alt=":snaphappy:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie47" alt=":greedy:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Here are two examples of the Cassius coin from CNG and an updated photo of my Koson for comparison.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1422239[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1422240[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1422242[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Anyone can read the section referenced above linked in my OP or here:</p><p><a href="https://www.calgarycoin.com/reference/articles/koson/koson.htm" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.calgarycoin.com/reference/articles/koson/koson.htm" rel="nofollow">https://www.calgarycoin.com/reference/articles/koson/koson.htm</a></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center">.............................................</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I am currently doing some research on the dies and known hoard find locations.&nbsp; I am planning to update the OP with more references and some additional information I think will be relevant. I’ll also respond with a summary of the updates.</p><p><br /></p><p>In the meantime if anyone knows where I can find the following documents please let me know.&nbsp; If not I’m sure I’ll be able track them down.</p><p><br /></p><p>Munteanu Lucian&nbsp;&nbsp; 2002</p><p>Despre descoperile monetare de tip Koson</p><p>Arheologia Moldovei, Academiei Române, Bucuresti, Vol. 25, 2002, p. 253-270&nbsp;&nbsp; {Coson}</p><p><br /></p><p>Munteanu Lucian&nbsp;&nbsp; 2003</p><p>Despre emiterea monedelor de tip Koson</p><p>Arheologia Moldovei, Academiei Române, Bucuresti, Vol. 26, 2003, p. 241-264&nbsp;&nbsp; {Coson}[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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