★ Harpokrates in Illyria (rare) ★

ILLYRIA, Dyrrhachion, c. 229-100 BC, AR drachm/victoriatus, issued under Lykiskos & Meniskos, magistrates. 2.72g, 17mm.
Obv: ΜΕΝΙΣΚΟΣ, magistrate's name above cow standing right, looking back at suckling calf, figure standing before, wearing chiton and headdress of Isis, and raising hand to mouth
Rev: ΔΥΡ ΛΥΚΙΣΚΟY, legend in four segments around double-lined quadrilateral containing stellate pattern.
Maier 278. Rare.
From the JB (Edmonton) collection.

The unusual figure on the right of the obverse (quite clear on this example) must be Harpokrates, the Greek version of young Horus. The hand-to-mouth position originally referred to the hieroglyph for “child,” but the Greeks mistook this for the gesture meaning silence. As a result, the Hellenized Harpokrates was considered the god of silence and secrets. The magistrate Meniskos produced a series of coins relating to the Isis cult.