PAEONIAN KINGDOM. Patraus

Give me the archaic issue type anyday...very nice addition!

Jeff

Hi

Just sold mine via Waddell - raised USD2000+ I paid USD975 couple years back. Very nice coins but fell victim to my culling of coins outside scope. This one has 'S' or 'M' - interesting feature. It is an early example of die as the neck on Apollo without die damage and to the left too. Congrats!

Alex

Mark

Think the horse ground line (off flan yours? was on mine) makes the horse rearing up and the spear almost horizontal into standing and falling soldier. Interestingly some have observed that the shield design of the standing soldier makes him Macedonian but I don't bite. Firstly these were issued under near Macedonian domination and indeed Patraos is alledged to have family in the army within the Paeonian horsemen contingent. Secondly, the legs of the standing soldier display a type of bound cloth (or leather) 'armour' - not one for Greeks, more like Persians. Third, there is a story of old of a famous incident whereby Paeonian horseman bravely saved the day against the odds during Alexander's 'World Tour 334-323BC'. It was speculated that this coin was a momento of that incident - will see if I can google it. Alex

Alex

I am leaning with you on this. I found this. I will need to do more research.

"common Paionian coin features Ariston, the brother of King Patraios, who fought with Alexander the Great in his eastern campaigns. The coin depicts a single combat between Ariston and the Persian Satropates at Gaugamela fought between the lines before the armies engaged. It is reputed that after striking him down with a lance, Ariston took the head of Satropates, and hurled it at the feet of Alexander with the challenge "In my country, a deed like this is rewarded with a gold cup."

I am now more eager to obtain a more complete version of this coin.

Happy to fuel the flames!

Welcome to the wonderful world of coin collecting by story :)