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Moneda de argint din Dacia

Anno 325-319 B.C.

• Silver coin  from Dacia
• Silbermünze aus Dakien
• Monedă de argint din Dacia
• Srebrnjak iz Dakije

Signatura: 2127/325-319 B.C.

 Tetradrachma. Recto/verso.

• Tetradrachma obvers: Zeus seated right, holding an eagle and scepter, head and neck to the right;

• Tetradrachma, Rückseite:Zeus sitzend, nach rechts blickend, mit Adler und Zepter, Kopf und Hals nach rechts zeigend;

• Tetradrachma, verso:Zeus așezat cu privire la dreapta, ținând vulturul și sceptrul  în mâna dreaptă, capul și gâtul la dreapta;

• Tetradrachma, poleđina:Zevs koji sedi okrenut desnoj strani, drži u desnoj ruci orla i skiptar, glava i vrat okrenuti nadesno.

Silver Coin, Dacia, Danubian Celts, Tetradrachm. Type of Alexander III and Philip III, 3rd century BC, EF (40-45), Cristian Flesche Collection: 730, Province: Dacia. Celtic tribe: Danubian Celts. Catalog reference: 1021367.

Obvers: Head of Herakles to the left, wearing a lion skin. Weight: 16.95 gr. Size: 27.50 mm. Silver falls between copper and gold in group 11 of the Periodic table. Three metals frequently used to mint coins. Two good reasons for using silver: It is a precious metal and oxidizes little upon contact with air. On the obverse of this silver tetradrachm coin, a youthful bust of Herakles faces to the right. With a large nose, a prominent chin, pursed lips and a slightly furrowed brow. He wears a headdress made of a lion’s pelt, with the paws tied around his neck. A border of dots surrounds the image. The chemical symbol Ag, derived from the Latin word for silver (argentum), compare Ancient Greek ἄργυρος (árgyros).

Silver has a white, shiny appearance and, to add a little bit of esotericism or polytheism to the mix, is traditionally dedicated to the moon or the goddess Artemis (Diana to the Romans). As a precious metal, just like gold, silver is used to mint coins with an intrinsic value, meaning their value is constituted by the material of which they are made. It should be noted that small quantities of other metals are frequently added to silver to make it harder, as it is naturally very malleable and thus wears away rapidly. The first silver coins probably date back to the end of the 7^th century BC and were struck on the Greek island of Aegina. These little beauties can be recognized by the turtle featured on the reverse. The patina of silver ranges from gray to black.

The millesimal fineness (or alloy) of a coin indicates the exact proportion (in parts per thousand) of silver included in the composition. For example, 999‰ silver or 999 parts of silver per 1 part of other metals. In France, silver was expressed in carats until 1995. This coin has circulated well from hand to hand and pocket to pocket but the impact on its wear remains limited: The coins retain much of its mint luster, sharp detailing and little sign of being circulated. Closer examination with the naked eye reveals minor scratches or nicks. The reverse shows the seated figure of Zeus facing rights. He is naked from the waist up, and holds a staff in his left hand, an eagle perches on his outstretched right hand.

He sits on a high-backed throne with his legs slightly splayed. The Greek word „AΛEΞANΔPOY” is behind him, and the word „BAΣIΛEΩΣ” is below, meaning „of  King Alexander”. A ship’s prow is in front of him; this is probably a mint mark indicating who was responsible for making this coin. The images of the youthful Herakles and enthroned Zeus that appear on this coin are the standard types used in the silver coinage of Alexander the Great during his lifetime. As a member of the ancient Macedonian royal family (the Argead dynasty) he claimed to be descended from Herakles, and Zeus, as king of the gods, was a meaningful image for all Greeks, over whom Alexander aspired to rule.

After Alexander’s death in 323 B.C., his general Seleucus continued to mint coins with these types, including this one, struck at the mint at Susa in southwestern Iran.

It was only after he proclaimed himself king in 305 that Seleucus introduced his own  types on a broad scale.