Thraco-Macedonian Tribe, Derrones, Dodekadrachm
ca. 475-465 BC - Silver
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Male figure seated in cart, drawn by ox, driving right, holding reins in left hand and right hand extended; above, crested Corinthian helmet to right; below ox, unknown ornament, looking like a S-shaped volute, each end terminated by three rays.
Triskeles anticlockwise, made of human legs; between the legs, floral ornaments.
Dodecadrachm (or tetrastater) issued by the Derrones tribe, whose territory was in the Thraco-macedonian region. Several elements lead us to believe that the obverse of our example is completely unpublished and not recorded in any standard reference, especially in the Svoronos. The reverse shows a legged triskeles, a common type in this region and already known from the Derrones tribe. The floral ornaments between the legs are much rarer. They can be found on the reverse of the Svoronos 9; Pl. I, nos. 10-11. These decorative ornaments subsequently disappeared from the types. This reverse is known and referenced, and rare examples can be found in sales over the last twenty years. As for the obverse, in our opinion it is completely new, unreferenced and unpublished to date. Several elements lead us to believe this, starting with the arms of the driver of the carriage. On the multiple examples that can be found in sales, it can be seen that the reins of the carriage are only partially visible, disappearing behind the ox at the level of the hindquarters. However, here we can clearly see the reins line of the carriage reaching the driver's hand. This left hand, which is clearly identifiable, is positioned in such a way that we cannot see the arm bent at 90°. Only the man's forearm is visible, horizontal. This is never the case on any of the specimens found; either the left arm is invisible, or it is, but slightly beyond the elbow. Only one example has been found in the last twenty years with the reins complete and distinct: H. D. Rauch GmbH, Auction 86, 12 May 2010, lot 293. Note that this example has a reverse similar to our example with the ornaments between the legs of the triskeles. A second distinctive detail is the other arm of the driver, the right arm, this time being fully extended. We haven't identified any examples with this particular design arrangement. All the examples of dodecadrachms we have observed show the characteristic arm, bent at 90° and the forearm raised up, holding a whip in the hand. However, in this case, there is no whip, or it is invisible behind the helmet. According to our research, no other Derrones dodecadrachm bears this distinctive design, either in private collections or in the illustrated types in the Corpus Nommorum, the ANS or on ARCH. Beneath the ox, we see a symbol for which we have no interpretation. As described, we see an S-shaped volute from which three curved rays emerge from the ends of the loops. In the same way as the characteristics described above, we haven't been able to find a similar symbol on the other examples illustrated on auction archive websites or in public collections. A similar symbol is very rarely found, interpreted as a floral ornament or more often an aplustre (aphlaston / acrostolium / akrostolion). It is similar in style to our design, but it is very far from resembling to our radiating volute. Finally, on the observe, several very faint letters can be identified on the borders of the flan. Under the symbol mentioned above, an interpretation remains complex as only the top of the letters are visible. The reading direction is uncertain if we take into consideration the Greek inscriptions found on some Derrones types, which can sometimes be read from right to left, or vice versa. We venture to see a ‘YA’, but without any certainty because it is not related to the usual ethnicity of the Derrones. Above the man's right arm, we see more letters, which seem to make more sense in the tribe's coinage typology, with an ‘ER’ (from left to right). The letter R has been observed by Svoronos, but it is not impossible that it is a Greek R, ‘P’. We see a stronger link here with a potential inscription mentioning the ethnic. These multiple iconographic elements make this example unique among the extremely rare coinage of the Derrones tribe ; tribe that is still largely unknown to us. Discoveries of monetary treasures suggest that their area of influence was in Macedonia, Thrace and Paeonia, more precisely in the north of Macedonia, in the Strymon upper valley, or perhaps further south. These are the main facts we have about them, and although some coins bear Greek inscriptions, we do not know whether this population was Greek-speaking or whether the Greek inscriptions were used to facilitate commercial exchanges with cities further south, through confidence in the language. Ex Comtesse de Béhague Collection (Vinchon, 14 April 1984, lot 90). Ex Vinchon, 17-18 December 1996, lot 56 = Ex Vinchon, 27 October 2000, lot 44. Faune d'Argent Collection.
39.11 gr
Silver
Silver can fall into your pocket but also falls between copper and gold in group 11 of the periodic table. Three metals frequently used to mint coins. There are two good reasons for using silver: it is a precious metal and oxidizes little upon contact with air. Two advantages not to be taken for granted.
Here is thus a metal that won’t vanish into thin air.
It’s chemical symbol Ag is derived from the Latin word for silver (argentum), compare Ancient Greek ἄργυρος (árgyros). Silver has a white, shiny appearance and, to add a little bit of esotericism or polytheism to the mix, is traditionally dedicated to the Moon or the goddess Artemis (Diana to the Romans).
As a precious metal, just like gold, silver is used to mint coins with an intrinsic value, meaning their value is constituted by the material of which they are made. It should be noted that small quantities of other metals are frequently added to silver to make it harder, as it is naturally very malleable (you can’t have everything) and thus wears away rapidly.
The first silver coins probably date back to the end of the 7th century BC and were struck on the Greek island of Aegina. These little beauties can be recognized by the turtle featured on the reverse.
The patina of silver ranges from gray to black.
The millesimal fineness (or alloy) of a coin indicates the exact proportion (in parts per thousand) of silver included in the composition. We thus speak, for example, of 999‰ silver or 999 parts of silver per 1 part of other metals. This measure is important for investment coins such as bullion. In France, it was expressed in carats until 1995.
