Central Greece. Illyria, Epidamnos-Dyrrhachion.
Stater, c. 360 BC. (Silver, 10.87g., 22mm). Cow standing left, her head turned back to right to lick her calf, below her suckling to right; on the cow’s flank near the tail, ∆ / Δ-Υ-Ρ Double stellate square within a double linear border; below, club to left. BMC 9. C.C. Vermeule, “Greek Coins in the Elisabeth Washburn King Collection at Bryn Mawr College”, NC 1956, 87 (this coin).

Epidamnos (the original name of Dyrrhachion – modern Dürres/Durazzo) was founded by colonists from Korkyra and Corinth in either 627 or 625. The city became quite strong and prosperous but was, in the 5th century, wracked by civil strife between the aristocrats and the rest of the people. In 437 the demos succeeded in throwing out the aristocrats who then sought help from Korkyra, while the people turned to Corinth. In the end the Corinthians were defeated and the city recaptured by the aristocratic faction in 433. The city came into the possession of various Illyrian dynasts in the 4th century and was taken by Macedon; in 229 it was captured by the Romans and from then on served as a major Roman base in the southern Balkans. The name Dyrrhachion was originally either the name of the peninsula on which the city was built, or the harbor area (or both), while Epidamnos was solely the name of the upper city; by no later than the 4th century the name Epidamnos was dropped. The city’s coinage of staters was modeled on that of Korkyra and was both extensive and notable for being hastily and often messily struck: this coin is a remarkably perfect striking.

Grading/Status: A splendid, very attractive coin, lightly toned, well struck and beautifully centered. Extremely fine.

Notes
Provenance:
Star Collection, Numismatica Ars Classica 48, 21 October 2008, 75.
Collection of E. W. King at Bryn Mawr, Christie’s New York, 11 December 1992, 687.
Acquired from Monnaies et Médailles, Basel, in 1946 for the equivalent of $46.40.