Epiros bronzes

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Pavlos, Oct 30, 2018.

  1. Pavlos

    Pavlos You pick out the big men. I'll make them brave!

    At the moment I am focusing especially on Epiros. I have obtained 2 Epiros bronzes recently which go nice along with my Epirote drachm (https://www.cointalk.com/threads/finally-the-first-coin-from-my-home-region.324921/). One of the bronze coins is also from the Epiros League (like the drachm) and the other bronze coin is a rare bronze issue in Epiros from Pyrrhos.

    [​IMG]
    Epirote League Bronze coin (234/3–168 B.C.)
    Obverse:
    Head of Zeus Dodonaeus left wearing oak wreath.
    Reverse: Thunderbolt, ΑΠΕΙ/ΡΩΤΑΝ above and below in two lines, all inside oak wreath.
    Mint: Phoenice, Epiros. 234/3–168 B.C.

    Pyrrhos, like Alexander the son of Neoptolemus, struck coins in various parts of his dominions, chiefly in Italy and Sicily, but also in Macedon and in Epiros. All the gold coins and the silver pieces are of Syracusan fabric, as are also the finest of his bronze coins. His tetradrachms and didrachms of Attic weight appear to have been issued at Locri in Bruttium. His Macedonian bronze coins are distinguished by the Macedonian shield on the obverse, while his Epirote money bears the head of Zeus, and is of ruder fabric. The inscription on his coins read ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΥΡΡΟΥ, usually at full length except on the Macedonian coins and on some of the Epirote bronze pieces, where the name appears in monogram.

    [​IMG]
    Kingdom of Epiros. Pyrrhos. Bronze coin (297–272 B.C.)
    Obverse:
    Laureate head of Zeus Dodonaeus left.
    Reverse: Thunderbolt; above: B, below: ΠYP monogram; all within oak wreath.
    Mint: Ambrakia, Epiros. 297–272 B.C.

    I am happy getting this one, the reverse may not be great but it is very difficult to find a nice portrait of Zeus on this coin type and the monogram of Pyrrhos is clearly visible on the reverse.
     
    randygeki, chrsmat71, Ajax and 10 others like this.
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Nice pickups. I could do with more Epeirote coins.

    [​IMG]
    EPEIROS, Ambrakia

    238 - 168 BC
    AE21. 6.62g, 20.6mm. SNG Cop 23. O: Laureate and veiled head of Dione right. R: Obelisk of Apollo, A-M/B-P flanking in two lines, all within laurel wreath.
     
    randygeki, chrsmat71, Ajax and 6 others like this.
  4. Jwt708

    Jwt708 Well-Known Member

    I certainly don't have one from there!
     
  5. Ed Snible

    Ed Snible Well-Known Member

    I don't know if this man-headed bull represents a river god. I have almost no information on the city or the coins.

    ambrakia-5.27g-both.jpg
    Epirus, Ambrakia, Late 2nd century BC, AE16 5.27g
    Obv: Head of river god Acheloos right (Man-headed bull)
    Rev: AMBPA; bull butting left
    Ref: SNG Copenhagen 28
     
  6. Nicholas Molinari

    Nicholas Molinari Well-Known Member

    Nice one!

    Acheloios Arachthos, in my opinion.
     
  7. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

  8. Pavlos

    Pavlos You pick out the big men. I'll make them brave!

    Nice one, that coin is still on my wishlist!

    Great coin and in good condition, I saw this type for sale some time ago but it was very worn, epiros bronzes are quite crude in general unfortunately. Yours is in good shape.
     
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page