Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 126 17 Nov 2021
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Skyros
Didrachm circa 485-480, AR 8.75 g. Two long horned and bearded goats, opposed vertically, back to back, with their heads turned inwards and their legs extended; between them, five-lobed fig leaf. Rev. Stellate design; all within incuse square. BCD Thessaly 1, 1367 (this coin). cf. Balcer A.7/P.4 (these dies).
Very rare. Old cabinet tone, areas of weakness, otherwise good very fine
Ex Myers 13, 1976, 157 and Nomos 4, 2011, BCD, 1367 sales.
The rugged island of Skyros off the coast of Thessaly was never a place of great importance, although it became a base for Dolopian pirates in the early fifth century BC. The Dolopians are variously described as a Thessalian or Aitolian Greek people who were much given to maintaining themselves through plunder. It is tempting if perhaps a little speculative to suggest that the somewhat crude Archaic silver coinage attributed to Skyros might have been struck by the Dolopians of Skyros from the plunder that they took attacking unwary vessels in the Aegean Sea.
Dolopian piracy was brought to a sudden end in c. 475 BC when the Athenian fleet under Kimon rooted the Dolopians out of Skyros and replaced them with Athenian cleruchs (colonists who retained citizen rights at Athens). The Athenians claimed justification in colonizing the island as it was said to be the burial place of the great Athenian hero, Theseus. As proof of this, Kimon reportedly found his bones and carried them back for reburial in the Theseion at Athens.
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Didrachm circa 485-480, AR 8.75 g. Two long horned and bearded goats, opposed vertically, back to back, with their heads turned inwards and their legs extended; between them, five-lobed fig leaf. Rev. Stellate design; all within incuse square. BCD Thessaly 1, 1367 (this coin). cf. Balcer A.7/P.4 (these dies).
Very rare. Old cabinet tone, areas of weakness, otherwise good very fine
Ex Myers 13, 1976, 157 and Nomos 4, 2011, BCD, 1367 sales.
The rugged island of Skyros off the coast of Thessaly was never a place of great importance, although it became a base for Dolopian pirates in the early fifth century BC. The Dolopians are variously described as a Thessalian or Aitolian Greek people who were much given to maintaining themselves through plunder. It is tempting if perhaps a little speculative to suggest that the somewhat crude Archaic silver coinage attributed to Skyros might have been struck by the Dolopians of Skyros from the plunder that they took attacking unwary vessels in the Aegean Sea.
Dolopian piracy was brought to a sudden end in c. 475 BC when the Athenian fleet under Kimon rooted the Dolopians out of Skyros and replaced them with Athenian cleruchs (colonists who retained citizen rights at Athens). The Athenians claimed justification in colonizing the island as it was said to be the burial place of the great Athenian hero, Theseus. As proof of this, Kimon reportedly found his bones and carried them back for reburial in the Theseion at Athens.
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