Stater

Historical Context: This silver stater, issued by the prosperous Greek colony of Dyrrachion (375 BC - 280 BC), served as a vital medium for trade along the Illyrian coast. Founded by Corinth, Dyrrachion maintained strong economic and cultural ties, a relationship reflected in its numismatic output. Spanning the late Classical and early Hellenistic periods, this coinage signifies Dyrrachion's enduring autonomy and commercial prominence, facilitating extensive maritime commerce across the Adriatic.

Artistry: While specific engravers remain anonymous, the artistry aligns with the late Classical Greek stylistic school, characterized by robust naturalism. The obverse masterfully depicts a cow suckling its calf, an iconographic inheritance from Corinthian coinage symbolizing fertility and wealth. The bovine figures are rendered with anatomical precision. The reverse features a distinctive double stellate pattern enclosed within a square incuse, often with the ethnic abbreviation ΔΥΡ, blending geometric abstraction and civic identity.

Technical/Grading: Key high-points for assessing wear include the cow's head, udder, and calf's head on the obverse, alongside the cow's musculature. On the reverse, the central points of the stellate design and the square incuse perimeter are critical. Strikes are typically strong on the obverse, capturing intricate animal details. The reverse, while usually well-struck within the incuse, can sometimes exhibit softer definition in the innermost stellate pattern. Planchets are generally broad and well-formed.