TROAS. Dardanos. Circa 550-500 BC. Drachm (Silver, 16 mm, 5.24 g), silver proto-coin, c. 550. Cock standing to right, above, quatrefoil of pellets; before two pellets. Rev. Two square incuse punches of uneven size. Unpublished but cf. BMC Troas p. XLII for type. Same dies as Roma XV, 2018, 137 & Naumann 92, 2020, 154. The third known example. A fascinating coin, and from the earliest issue of the mint. Very fine.

From the collection of a scholar.

This is a very interesting coin of Dardanos. The presence of a second incuse punch is very uncommon on silver coinage and is a direct link to the earliest electrum coins (of mostly uncertain mints) of the Ionian and Lydian regions. Additionally we believe that a date closer to 550 should be proposed for the minting of this series, which could very well be the first silver issue struck by Dardanos.

In total there are six pellets on this coin, possibly a reference to the fact that drachms are composed of six obols.