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Stater - Monunios
| Issuer | Kings of Illyria |
|---|---|
| Year | 300 BC - 275 BC |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Silver Stater (3) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | A central rectangular frame contains two facing Illyrian helmets above two greaves, all rendered in relief, evoking the royal military insignia of the Illyrian kingdom. To the left of the frame stands a spear or javelin, and to the right a staff or sceptre, framing the central device symmetrically. The two-line Greek legend ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ above and ΜΟΝΟΥΝΙΟΥ below the central frame identifies the issuer as King Monunios. The overall composition presents a bold, heraldic arrangement typical of royal Illyrian silver coinage of the early third century BC. |
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| Reverse lettering | ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΟΝΟΥΝΙΟΥ |
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| Additional information |
Monunios is among the few Illyrian kings whose coinage can be attributed with confidence, his name appearing in Greek inscription on the issue itself — unusual for a region where dynastic coinage was often anonymous or ambiguously attributed. He is attested in ancient sources as having engaged diplomatically and militarily with both Epirus and Macedonia in the early third century BC, operating along the fractious Adriatic frontier during the wars of the Diadochi's successors.
The BMC Greek reference as entry one in the series reflects how foundational this piece is to the scholarly classification of Illyrian royal coinage.