This page deals with a less known chapter of ancient Greek numismatics: the coinage of Apollonia and Dyrrhachium. These towns, founded by Corcyra on the Illyrian coast of the Adriatic, produced similar coins throughout that justifies common handling. Their earliest coins, the silver staters copied the Corcyrean prototype both in design and weight standard. Later, for a short period Pegasus type staters were minted under Corinthian influence. The best-known, long series of cow/calf type silver drachms were produced from the end of the third century till the first half of the first century BC, the picture shows one of these from Apollonia. They played an important role in the N-E Balkan area during the Roman escalation. After the Roman take-over Apollonia minted silver pieces in the weight of the Roman denarii with Apollo and three dancing nymphs and later some Roman provincial bronze issues but the mint of Dyrrhachium was closed.

• Historical background
• Symbolism on the coins
• The earliest coins: staters
• The drachm series
• General introduction
• Chronological classes
• A unique reverse: fire and pedum
• Half drachms
• Bronze issues
• The Apollo denars from Apollonia
• Fakes and imitations
• Research methods
• Further reading
• Links to related topics [no links yet]

Historical background
Dyrrhachium (Dyrrachion) was founded by Corcyra in 627 BC as Epidamnos. This name, however, is irrelevant in numismatic context since it was never used on coins. The town survived the ages, was known as Durazzo under Venetian rule and now as Durrës is the main sea port of Albania. Apollonia, founded in 588 BC was a smaller place further up in land. Pilgrims from all regions of Hellas came here to worship Apollo in the Nymphaeum, the famous sanctuary. The town didn't survive the downfall of polytheism.
Apollonia and Dyrrhachium came under Roman protectorate in 229 BC and were incorporated in the Roman Empire as part of Illyria provincia during the first c BC. The detailed history of the region, especially the exact dates of the events are still debated by historians.
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Symbolism on the coins

The majority of the silver coins of Apollonia and Dyrrhachium have a cow and suckling calf on the obverse and a double stellate pattern on the reverse taken from Corcyrean prototypes. The cow/calf fertility symbol is of Euboean origin. The symmetrical geometrical pattern is most probably a schematic representation of the two stars of the Dioscuri (see my article in The Celator). Other explanations include backgammon (for the resemblance of the pattern to the board of the popular game "tavli"); doors, etc. will probably be discussed here some time. On some Apolloniate issues we can see the fire of the Nymphaeum, a shepherd's crook, or dancing nymphs, and/or Apollo himself as local attributes. The club of Hercules is characteristic for (some) Dyrrhachian issues pointing at the patron of the town.
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The earliest coins: staters

The earliest coins of both cities were the staters, similar to their Corcyrean prototypes, in classical style and high relief on the obverse.

This stater is from Dyrrhachium. Obv. Cow to R, monogram above. Rev. D-Y-R retrograde; club. BMC 28. 10.93 g, vertical diameter of the obverse 20.4 mm.

Apolloniate staters have a similar design but the legend is different, A-P, and there is no club on their reverse.

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The drachm series
• General introduction

There are some 600 different emissions in this series. Despite their similarity they are not the same. To discover some of the differences the reverse must be placed with the ethnic attribute APOL or DYR up so the name starts in the segment on the right. If you have such coins or pictures, place them before you the same way (many catalogues or online illustrations don't view the reverse in this manner). The most important variants of features can be seen on the following picture:



More details of the individual characteristics:


Obverse

• Cow: standing to right = R or left = L

The default is R: all Dyrrhachian drachms and the earlier Apolloniate drachms have the cow to right. Cow to left means an Apolloniate piece from the second half of the production.

• Name above the cow

This name is in the nominative case and let's call him a moneyer (without being sure in his real function). On the early coins of both towns the name is abbreviated or is in a monogrammatic form, later the full name appears. Longer names may be broken into two lines. The same moneyer could serve under several eponymous magistrates (see at "Reverse: name in three parts clockwise").

• Symbols or monograms: above the name, left and right in field, in the exergue

The earliest drachms are without these tiny symbols. When present, they belong to the name on the reserve. The system of the symbols in not understood; the deciphering of the monograms is also unsuccessful so far. However, knowing the (combination of) symbols of a certain eponymos one can identify the piece from the obverse alone.

• Border of dots: yes = 1, no = 0

There is no border on the earliest drachms, it appears in a later phase in both towns. Exceptionally, the border on the obverse can be a line circle.

• Exergue line: yes = 1, no = 0

This feature is not present on the early pieces but later it can be seen even if there is no symbol or monogram in the exergue. The cow/calf central device seems to 'stand' on this line.

Reverse

• Ethnic attribute: Apol or Dyr

While the later coins of Apollonia and Dyrrhachium are different in style, the early pieces can only be identified by town if we can figure out the ethnic attribute on the reverse. Viewing the coin, the segment containing this bit must be up.

• Name in three parts clockwise

The name on the reverse is in the genitive case. This person must be the eponymous magistrate who was elected yearly. Few names can be found from other sources but in general we don't know the chronology of their terms in office. The symbols on the obverse belong to the name on the reverse: a different name on the reverse comes with a different combination of symbols. Eponymous magistrates having the same name can be distinguished on this ground: a Kallenos reverse from Dyrrhachium with ear of corn (wheat) and grapes in the exergue is, for example, a different person from another Kallenos who has cornucopiae in the field left and head of Helios in the exergue.

• Form of the central device: square with straight or concave sides

The original format is a square with double, straight sides but there are coins with inward bending (concave) sides can also been seen from times to time. The concave format is characteristic for the later Apolloniate drachms.

• Position of the central device: rays vertical or horizontal

In standard viewing (ethnic attribute up) most coins have the rays in the vertical position but there are coins with horizontal rays. On the earlier coins sometimes both positions can be seen on different pieces belonging to the same issue but later this feature becomes emission-characteristic: all coins in the same issue show the rays in the same position. The frequency of the horizontal arrangement to the vertical one is close to 1:6.

• Form of the rays: tear drop, drumstick, tadpole, petal, etc.

The rays in the stellate pattern have different style varieties. Teardrop forms can be seen on the early issues, this can be called a tadpole if the tail is slightly curved. Most of the late Dyrrhachian issues have the drumstick form. A change from the drumstick to the petal form is characteristic for the latest Apolloniate issues.

• Number of separation lines dividing the square: 1, 2 or 3

Most common is a single line separating the two halves of the double stellate pattern but there are issues with two, exceptionally with three parallel lines in this position.

• Line border yes = 1, no = 0

As on the obverse, the earliest coins have no border on the reverse but it can also be missing in certain later emissions. Sometimes a border of dots can be found instead of the usual line border.

Both sides:

• Form of alpha: V (V) or horizontal (A) connection between the legs of the letter

Most emissions have the V-type alpha but the last Apolloniate issues all have the horizontally connected variant (A). Not all coins contain this letter in the legends, fortunately, in Apollonia there is at least one alpha on her coins for the ethnic attribute APOL.

• Any other divergence from the main type or unusual letter forms.

It is advisable to notice and describe any other unusual features. Uncommon letterforms may appear like curly-E (C with a tongue), curly sigma (C) etc.; sometimes the same letter has different forms on the very same coin. The numbers of dots in the stellate pattern is usually three in each half. There can be only one, or there can be a central dot in the middle of the separation line. Inverted letters must be noticed just like retrograde legends, the latter, however, is an indication that the coin doesn't belong to an official issue.
Weight in grams with two decimal places
Diameter (the vertical diameter of the obverse) in mm with one decimal place.


Try to discover characteristic details on the following pieces:






The coins on the left and right are from Apollonia, the middle one is from Dyrrhachium; from chronological classes Apol-R3, Dyr-4, and Apol-Lc1 (see below). We can see cow to right and left; monogram above the name on the obverse; monogram in the exergue; a combined symbol right in the field; the presence or absence of the borders; two different forms of alpha; the two different possible positions of the central device; and border of dots instead of the usual line border on the reverse.

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• Chronological classes

The following two tables contain my most recent relative chronological classification of the drachms. This is based on others' earlier attempts (see Ceka, Conovici, and M. Torbágyi in Further reading ) refined by my original observations: the chronological significance of the style of the rays in the stellate pattern and the two types of alpha in the late Apolloniate drachms. The comparison of hoard contents, follow-up of repeat name occurrences, style patterns, and weight statistics enabled me to establish the most probable sequence of a few dozens of the latest emissions from both towns. Sample pictures are included in the tables for easier perception of the differences, some of these can only be studied on enlarged coin photos [forthcoming].


In Dyrrhachium, the classification is simple, is based on the features visible on the obverse. The last two classes, Dyr-4 and Dyr-5 do not differ much in style, the difference is that the abundance of parallel emissions (many obverse names) of the same eponymous magistrate in Dyr-4 is diminished to a maximum of two in Dyr-5. All emissions of the last classes will be listed here soon. The classification is more complicated in Apollonia, based on discriminative features found both on the obverse and the reverse.

Chronological classes: Dyrrhachium

1	Obverse name abbreviated
	1a	Abstract style
	1b	Classic style
2	Full obverse name. No symbols
3	Symbol in the exergue
4	Multiple symbols. Many obverses with the same reverse
5	Only one or two obverses with the same reverse

Chronological classes: Apollonia

R	Cow to right
	R1	Obverse name abbreviated			Similar to Dyr-1 pieces, see above
	R2	Full obverse name. No symbols
	R3	Symbols or monograms appear
L	Cow to left
	Ls	Straight sides of square
	Lc	Concave sides of square
		Lc1	Symbols on the obverse. V-type alpha
		Lc2	No symbols. A-type alpha
			Lc2a	Drumstick-shape rays
			Lc2b	Petal-shape rays

The early classes of drachms of the towns (Dyr-1, 2, 3 and Apol-R1, 2, 3) can only be differentiated by the ethnic on the reverse for they are very similar in style and are with the cow standing to right (R). On the earliest coins the name on the obverse is abbreviated or monogrammatic, there are no borders (Dyr-1, Apol-R1). Later the name is spelt out in full (Dyr-2, Apol-R2); and soon small symbols or monograms appear on the obverse (Dyr-3, Apol-R3). Borders may also appear.
At a certain point Apollonia changed this common type by turning the cow to left (L). There are four emissions among these on which the sides of the square on the reverse are straight (s). These are not represented in the usual late Apolloniate hoards therefore it is very likely that they were produced in a close sequence at the beginning of this new era therefore their grouping as Apol-Ls seem to be justified. All the other Apolloniate drachms with cow to left have concave sides of the stellate pattern on the reverse (Apol-Lc). Concave sided squares can also be observed on few Dyrrhachian emissions but this is the exception.
The majority of coins found in the N-E Balkan area belong to the later phase of drachm production (Dyr-4 and 5, Apol-Lc) when the coins can be differentiated by a glimpse: cow to left = Apollonia, cow to right = Dyrrhachium. Interesting features of the late Apolloniate drachms are the use of two different forms of alpha and of the rays in the stellate pattern which form clearly separable chronological subclasses.
Many coins from the last periods are flatstruck or grossly off-centre for the increased and hasty production, only parts of the legends are readable. Such coins could only be identified from a proper catalogue but so far no one has been published. If time allows, more and more information will be added to this page on the different coin emissions and their characteristics.
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• A unique reverse: fire and pedum

  The reverse of the Aibatios/Chairenos issue from Apollonia (Ceka 8, W 61, BMC 41, SNG Tb 1318, SNG Cop 398) is different from all the other drachms: instead of the double stellate pattern it shows the fire of the Nymphaeum with a shepherd's crook below. The significance of this decline from the main type is unknown. This is not the last issue in the drachm series as it was hypothesised earlier, it belongs to Class Apol-Lc1: cow to left, symbols, V-type alpha.

  The piece shown is 3.22 g, vertical diameter of the obverse 16.7 mm.

  
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• Half drachms
  

  Half drachms were also issued from time to time. They are smaller than the drachms. Half drachm - half cow: the obverse device is the forepart of a cow. The name above the cow is abbreviated in many cases even in the later periods when the drachms display the name in full. The reverse is similar to the drachms.
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Both Apollonia and Dyrrhachium produced bronze coins in various sizes and designs. Bronze coins were not used outside the original economic radius of the city states, they are found only in Albanian hoards.

This is a hemiobol from Apollonia, probably second half 2nd c. B.C. Obv.: Head of Apollo facing to r. Monogram TF behind nape. Rev.: Obelisk in laurel wreath. APOLLONIATAN divided in four syllables. 3.90 g, vertical diameter of the obverse 17.8 mm. BMC 49. Most bronze coins are corroded; the face is not very clear on this piece. The interesting bit here is the monogram that appears to be in Latin characters (TF).

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The Apollo denars from Apollonia

After the end of the drachm production and now clearly under Roman influence, Apollonia produced silver coins in the weight of the Roman republican denarius (around 4 g) with head of Apollo on the obverse and three nymphs dancing around the fire of the Nymphaeum on the reverse. There are magistrates' names on both sides, one in the genitive case on the obverse and one or two on the reverse, in the nominative case (unlike on the drachms). Some forty different denars have been registered representing nearly thirty years of production. Half and quarter units are also known. A systematic study of these coins is still pending.

This Apollo denar is Bionos / Zoilos, 3.97 g, 18.8 mm. SNG Tb 1322.

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Research methods

There are no contemporary records or any other historical or archaeological evidence for the exact chronology of the Illyrian coinages. Vast majority of the magistrates' names on the drachms is known only from the coins. The chronological classification of these coins and their relative sequence have been based on the following approaches:

• Comparison of hoard contents
• Follow-up of name repetitions
• Meticulous observation on details of the coin images and style matters
• Weight statistics

Further reading

There is neither a complete collection nor a published manual for these coins. Ceka wrote the only monograph on the Illyrian coins and this book contains the most complete list of the name combinations of the drachms but without full description of the issues and illustrations; several of its entries require revision. The biggest published collection is of the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna ( W ) but the coins are not illustrated in the book. Runner-up is the British Museum collection ( BMC ) with very few pictures in the printed catalogue.
All coins are illustrated of the collections published in the Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum series of which the richest in Illyrian material is SNG Tübingen followed by SNG Copenhagen .
Ceka's attempt for the chronological classification of the drachms was modified by Conovici . His and Melinda Torbágyi 's suggestions gave fundamental inspiration to my work, the results of which can be found in my most detailed publications on this coinage.

Ceka :

Ceka, H. Questions de numismatique illyrienne. State University, Tirana, 1972.

W :

Schlosser, J. Beschreibung der altgriechischen Münzen. I. Thessalien, Illyrien, Dalmatien und die Inseln des Adriatischen Meeres, Epeiros. A. Holzhausen, Vienna, 1893.

BMC :

Gardner, P. A catalogue of the Greek coins in The British Museum. Vol. 7: Thessaly to Aetolia. London, 1883. Also, in reprint edition: A. Forni, Bologna, 1963.

SNG Tb :

Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum. Deutschland. Münzsammlung der Universität Tübingen. Vol. 2. Taurische Chersones - Korkyra. Gebr. Mann Verlag, Berlin 1982.

SNG Cop :

Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum. The Royal Collection of coins and medals, Danish National Museum. Thessaly-Illyricum. Copenhagen. Also in reprint edition: Sunrise Publications, New Jersey 1982.

Conovici :

Conovici, N. Cultura si civilizatie la Dunarea de Jos. Calarasi 1 (1985) 35-43.

Torbágyi :

Torbágyi, Melinda. Umlauf der Münzen von Apollonia und Dyrrhachium im Karpatenbecken. In: Proceedings of the 11th International Numismatic Congress. Vol. 1, 119-122. Louvain-la-Neuve 1993.

1. Petrányi, G. Relative chronology of the drachms of Apollonia and Dyrrhachium in the final period of minting. Numizmatikai Közlöny 94-95 (1995-1996) 3-18 + 2 plates.
2. Petrányi, G. On the position of the Aibatios/Chairenos issue in the sequence of Apollonian drachms. Studii si cercetari de numismatica 11 (1995) 59-63.
3. Petrányi, G. Gardens of Alkinoos: Fact or fiction? On the reverse pattern of the silver coins from Corcyra, Apollonia and Dyrrhachium. The Celator, November 1998, 22-24.

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