Chalkon 492 BC - 475 BC


Copper	1.34 g	11 mm

Description

Issuer	Dakia (Thrace)
Type	Standard circulation coin
Years	492 BC - 475 BC
Value	Chalkon (1⁄48)
Currency	Drachm
Composition	Copper
Weight	1.34 g
Diameter	11 mm
Shape	Round (irregular)
Technique	Hammered
Demonetized	Yes
Updated	2024-10-10

References

Numista	N#106660
Rarity index	94%

Reverse

Bull's head on the right, three-quarter view; around it, the ethnicity of the city Automatically translated

Script: Greek

Lettering: ΔΙ-ΚΑ-ΙΟΝ

Edge

Rough

Comment

This type is not referenced in any publication and has only been offered for sale five times in fifteen years, a sign that it is extremely rare, since bronze coinage from Dikaia is itself very rare.

There are two cities named Dikaia. One is in Thrace, whose precise geographical location is unknown, but which Pliny assumes to have been in the vicinity of Lake Bistonide/Vistonida, near Abdera. Lists of the tributary cities of Athens tell us that the city had to pay a modest tribute of half a talent, which suggests that it was a city of little importance.
The other, also known as Diakaipolis, was located in Macedonia, on the Thermaic Gulf, at an unknown exact site.
The use of similar iconographic elements, such as the ox, for some of the issues of both cities adds to the confusion.
For further information
https://www.jstor.org/stable/42679591?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
https://www.jstor.org/stable/42662669?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents Automatically translated

This is an automatic translation. The original text is:

Ce type n'est référencé dans aucune publication et n'est passé à la vente qu'à cinq reprises en quinze ans, signes qu'il est de la plus extrême rareté, le monnayage de bronze de Dikaia étant déjà lui même très rare.

Il existe deux cités nommées Dikaia. L'une en Thrace, dont la situation géographique précise est inconnue, mais dont on suppose qu'elle était située dans les environs du lac Bistonide/Vistonida selon Pline, à proximité d'Abdère. Les listes des villes tributaires d'Athènes nous rapportent que la cité devait s'acquitter d'un modeste tribut d'un demi-talent, ce qui laisse supposer une cité de faible importance.
L'autre, également désignée sous le nom de Diakaipolis, était située en Macédoine, sur le golfe thermaïque, à un emplacement exact inconnu.
Le recours à des éléments iconographiques semblables, comme le boeuf, pour certaines des émissions des deux cités ajoute à la confusion.
Pour plus d'informations :
https://www.jstor.org/stable/42679591?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
https://www.jstor.org/stable/42662669?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

Interesting fact

The Chalkon coin from Dakia (Thrace) was used as a form of currency in the 5th century BC, and its design features a unique blend of Greek and Thracian elements, reflecting the cultural exchange and influence of the region at that time.