Nomos AG
obolos 19 8 May 2021
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KINGS OF THRACE. Spartokos, circa 281-277 BC. (Bronze, 18 mm, 5.35 g, 11 h), Kabyle. Janiform head of lion left, with open jaws, and bearded male right; club to left below. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣΠAPTOKOY Artemis standing left, holding wreath in right hand. HGC 3.2, 1476. Topalov 124. Very rare - only one example in CoinArchives. Pitting, otherwise, about very fine.
Little is known about the Odrysian dynast Spartokos except that he was a contemporary of Berenike, the widow of Odrysian dynast Seuthes III, who unlike Spartokos did not assume the royal title. Spartokos ruled a small territory around Kabyle, where this issue seems to have been struck. It sports an unusual obverse design featuring a janiform head of a lion and bearded male, although it is not apparent the significance of this type. The figure of Artemis on the reverse, however, is quite obvious: she was the patron goddess of Kabyle.
Little is known about the Odrysian dynast Spartokos except that he was a contemporary of Berenike, the widow of Odrysian dynast Seuthes III, who unlike Spartokos did not assume the royal title. Spartokos ruled a small territory around Kabyle, where this issue seems to have been struck. It sports an unusual obverse design featuring a janiform head of a lion and bearded male, although it is not apparent the significance of this type. The figure of Artemis on the reverse, however, is quite obvious: she was the patron goddess of Kabyle.