CLASSICAL COINS
THRACO-MACEDONIAN TRIBES
The Derrones. Dodecadrachm, about 500-480 BC. AR 36.93 g. Ox cart r. on triple exergual line; the seated driver, wearing petasus and long chiton, holding reins with his r. hand, kentron in his raised l. hand; in field, crested Corinthian helmet r., below ox's belly, flower. Rev. Bearded head r., wearing crested Corinthian helmet; in field, three stars. Svoronos, Hell. pl. III,1-2. SNG ANS 929 (these dies).
Spectacular archaic coin of great rarity . Nice toning. Oval flan. Slightly double struck on obv.
Obv. Good very fine. Rev. Very fine Provenance: Auction Numismatic Fine Arts, Inc., Beverly Hills XVI, New York (1985), 115. The Derrones are known only from their coinage, but like other Thraco-Macedonian tribes must have been a peasant society with a warrior aristocracy. Hoard evidence suggests that they were one of the westernmost tribes, inhabiting inland Paeonia and deriving their bullion from Lake Praxias. Their coinage is notable for its extremly large denominations which originated well before 480 B.C., perhaps as a form of tribute to the Persian empire.The types and symbols of the Derronian coinage, while somewhat enigmatic, do seem to centre on a small repertory of themes: plant and animal fertility, the heavens, and warfare. The various obverse types all feature an ox cart accompanied by a human or divine figure. In this case the driver is probably the tribal king and hereditary high priest. The flower beneath the oxen is a fertility symbol connected with chthonic religion. The helmet above the oxen represents the protection of the warrior-god, one of the three chief divinities of Thracian religion, who is portrayed more fully on the reverse, surrounded by stars.
Price realized | 40'000 CHF |
Starting price | 40'000 CHF |
Estimate | 50'000 CHF |