Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 314 6 November 2013
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KINGS of THRACE, Celtic. Kavaros. Circa 230/25-218 BC. Æ (18mm, 5.87 g, 12h). Kabyle mint. Laureate head of Apollo right / Nike standing left, holding wreath; monogram before. SNG BM Black Sea 194; SNG Stancomb 304. Good VF, dark green-brown patina, minor porosity.
Although Greek in style and customarily catalogued as Greek or Thracian, this coin was clearly issued by Kavaros, probably at Kabyle in the Celtic kingdom of Tylis. The belief that Kavaros was a Celt – the last Celtic king of Tylis – is attested by the historian Polybius and by his Celtic name, which means 'hero, champion, warrior' and is cognate with the Welsh cawr ('giant'). See Chris Rudd "Cavaros, the Celt we forgot" (Chris Rudd List 75, May 2004, pp. 2-6).
Although Greek in style and customarily catalogued as Greek or Thracian, this coin was clearly issued by Kavaros, probably at Kabyle in the Celtic kingdom of Tylis. The belief that Kavaros was a Celt – the last Celtic king of Tylis – is attested by the historian Polybius and by his Celtic name, which means 'hero, champion, warrior' and is cognate with the Welsh cawr ('giant'). See Chris Rudd "Cavaros, the Celt we forgot" (Chris Rudd List 75, May 2004, pp. 2-6).