Catalog
| Issuer | Caucasian Albania |
|---|---|
| Year | 100 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Value | Drachm (1) |
| Currency | Drachm |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 3.69 g |
| Diameter | |
| Thickness | |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | |
| Engraver(s) | |
| In circulation to | |
| Reference(s) | Sergeev#661 ff |
| Obverse description | `Heracles` head, with dot-shape eye & large triangular nose |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | |
| Obverse lettering | |
| Reverse description | `Zeus` seated, but the seat has vanished, still holding bird and standard |
| Reverse script | |
| Reverse lettering | |
| Edge | |
| Mint | |
| Mintage |
-100 -100 - - |
| Numisquare ID | 4760781480 |
| Additional information |
Historical Context: This Silver Drachm, anonymously issued by Caucasian Albania around 100 BC, emerges from a pivotal period. Caucasian Albania was consolidating its identity amidst geopolitical flux between the declining Seleucid Empire, ascendant Parthia, and the expanding Kingdom of Pontus. The coin’s anonymous nature suggests a collective tribal authority or a nascent state issuing a standardized type. Its issuance reflects increasing economic sophistication and a move towards formalized monetary systems, crucial for asserting nascent statehood.
Artistry: Lacking a named engraver, this drachm adheres to the prevalent Hellenistic stylistic school, common in the region due to pervasive Greek cultural influence. Such anonymous drachms typically feature a stylized head of a deity or