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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Ryro, post: 8106242, member: 91461&quot;]The title really says it all. This is a post of a coin from a place nobody knows exactly where it is, or should I say was, most say Macedon due to the helmet... but all the find spots tell us Thrace. As well, Pliny the elder and Strabo say it WAS in Thrace. However, nearly all auction listings still have it as Macedonian <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie46" alt=":facepalm:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>So, where in the world was this what&#039;s it called place?</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1410068[/ATTACH]</p><p>This was the city of Orthagoreia. Likely created by Philip II while he waged his Thracian wars in the 340s BCE<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie58" alt=":jimlad:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> Hence the Macedonian helmet on the reverse and Apollo of the obverse.</p><p>So, we are pretty sure it was in Thrace. However, Thrace having been a HUGE plot of land kinda makes it easy to close your eyes and place your finger somewhere on a map, slam it down and say, &quot;Huzzah! I&#039;ve found Orthagoreia!&quot;</p><p>Now, if the Greeks thought of the Macedonians as their uncivilized brothers, then they thought of Thrace as their crazy second cousin who hopefully is NEVER let out of jail<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie67" alt=":nailbiting:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie9" alt=":eek:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> The Thracians were known to be huge, fierce, battle worn, untrustworthy, uncivilized, barbarians! Huh, those are the same descriptors below my picture in my high school year book<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie7" alt=":p" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1410071[/ATTACH]</p><p>(I&#039;m NOT messing with that dude!)</p><p><br /></p><p>So, where in Thrace? Sadly, the ancients disagree. Fortunately, we do know a large quantity of bronze issues of Orthagoreia appeared in the excavations at Maroneia, S. Psoma devoted a chapter of her work on the coin finds of Maroneia to review the totality of evidence on the city (Psoma, Maroneia, pp. 193–204). Which means they were either in close proximity or traded with this area.</p><p><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie26" alt=":bookworm:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie77" alt=":pompous:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>The city was likely abandoned due to its location not being ideal after Alexander the Great had conquered and Hellenized Europe and some of Asia making the trade routes change.</p><p>On to the coin!<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie33" alt=":cigar:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Really pleased with that patina (duh) and the detail of both Apollo (woman want him, men want to be him) and more importantly the helmet<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie17" alt=":astronaut:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1410062[/ATTACH]</p><p>THRACE, Orthagoreia. (Likely under Philip II)</p><p>Circa 340s-330s BC. Æ (10mm, 2.52 g, 1h). Laureate head of Apollo right / Macedonian helmet facing; star above. Psoma, Maroneia M165; HGC 3.1 (Macedonia), 602. VF. Purchased from Savoca December 2021</p><p>See Psoma, Maroneia, pp. 193–204, for the reassignment of Orthagoreia from Macedon to Thrace.</p><p><br /></p><p>Man those Macedonians had some gnarly and intimidating helmets as well as shields!</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1410083[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Here&#039;s one from the side view from Philip V and Perseus:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1410065[/ATTACH]</p><p>Time of Philip V and Perseus. Ca. 221-168 B.C. AE unit (17.1 mm, 6.07 g, 12 h). Uncertain Macedonian mint. Macedonian shield, star with spiral arms in center boss / M-K, ΔONΩN, Macedonian left facing helmet with cheek guards, BA monogram below. SNG Alpha Bank -; SNG Cop -; McClean 3666. VF. Rare.</p><p><br /></p><p>A near mint state issue purchased this year:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1410063[/ATTACH]</p><p>Time of Alexander III – Kassander Uncertain mint in Macedon. ( Circa 325-310 BC).</p><p>AE Bronze (16.8 mm., 4,6 g ).</p><p>Macedonian shield with thunderbolt on boss / Macedonian helmet, decorated with laurel wreath, thunderbolt below. Price 416. very fine. Purchased from Lydia Numismatics July 2021</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Tryphon taking it to a while new level of intimidation:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1410066[/ATTACH]</p><p>Tryphon, Diodotus</p><p>Antioch, 141 BCE, AE 18mm, 4.7g</p><p>Obvs: Head of Tryphon right diademed.</p><p>Revs: BAΣΙΛEΩΣ TPYФΩNOΣ AYTOKPATOPOΣ, Spiked Macedonian helmet. Grain to left</p><p>Order # G 139</p><p>SC 2034.2b Ex:Savoca</p><p><br /></p><p>The Romans would mock this helmet after the capture of Philip V with this satirical RR version:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1410067[/ATTACH]</p><p>L. MARCIUS PHILIPPUS. Denarius (112 or 113 BC). Rome.</p><p>Obv: Head of Philip V of Macedon right, wearing diademed royal Macedonian helmet with goat horns; Roma monogram to upper left, Φ to lower right.</p><p>Rev: L PHILIPPVS .</p><p>Equestrian statue right; mark of value in exergue. Crawford 293/1. VF 3.99 g. 19 mm.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Ex Numismatik Naumann</p><p>Purchased Jan/2021</p><p><br /></p><p>Of course there were many helmets in Greece. Here&#039;s a recent two for one with Athena on both sides:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1410061[/ATTACH]</p><p>LYCIA. Xanthos. Hemiobol or Tetartemorion (0.6 g. 10 mm.) (Circa 410-400 BC).</p><p>Obv: Helmeted head of Athena right within dotted border.</p><p>Rev: Helmeted head of Athena left within dotted border.</p><p>SNG von Aulock -; cf. BMC 109 (Obol). Toned.</p><p>Good very fine.</p><p>Purchased from NBS November 2021</p><p><br /></p><p>[MEDIA=youtube]l8WMGBuNaus[/MEDIA]</p><p>So, let&#039;s see those helmets, shields are always welcome, coins from lands unknown and or lost to time or whatever keeps your skull from being cleaved![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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