weight 4,51gr. ; bronze Ø 15mm.

obv. Piloi of the dioskouroi surmounted by stars.
rev. ΔΙ - ΟΣ / ΚΟV - ΡΙΑ / Δ - ΟΣ in three lines around thyrsos.

The history of Dioskourias can be traced back to the 6th century BC, when it was settled by Greeks from Miletos. It was situated in the north of Kolchis on the Black Sea coast, in present-day the city of Sukhumi in western Georgia. Internationally, Kolchis is perhaps best known for its role in Greek mythology, most notably as the destination of the Argonauts, as well as the home to Medea and the Golden fleece. It was also described as a land rich with gold, iron, timber and honey that would export its resources mostly to ancient Greece. Dioskourias was a great market-place for the peoples of the surrounding area. In the Roman period much of the city disappeared under the Black Sea.

BMC 1 ; SNG BM Black Sea 1021-3 ; SNG.Copenhagen 102 ;
SNG Stancomb 638; HGC 7, 205 ; Sear 3629
Attractive dark patina.
xf-

weight 3,34gr. ; gold Ø 13mm.
Type with the usual high hammered edges.
Imitating Alexander III (the Great) (336-323 BC) and Lysimachos (323-281 BC).

obv. A stylized head (perhaps Alexander the Great) facing right with two pellets in front
rev. Stylized Nikè standing facing flanked by two pellets on each side.

Minted in the area of Kolchis, what is now primarily western Georgia in the Eastern Black sea and where Jason and the Argonauts traveled on their epic journey to retrieve the fabled golden fleece from Aeetes, King of the Colchians. This coin is related to some of the greatest heroes ever written about, including Heracles, Eurytus, Theseus, and Orpheus and also has ties to one of the most iconic relics of the time; the Golden Fleece!

The epic story of Jason and the Argonauts is filled with adventure, loss, betrayal, murder, sorcery and revenge. Pelias, who imprisoned his half-brother Aeson and seized his throne, became King of Lolcus in Thessaly. He began killing every descendant of Aeolus he could, but spared Aeson, father of Jason. After Jason′s birth, his death was faked and he was smuggled out of the city to be raised by the centaur Chiron, the trainer of heroes. When Jason was old enough he returned home to claim the throne as the rightful king of Lolcus. Pelias swore before Zeus that he would give up the throne upon Jason′s return home with the Golden Fleece from Colchis. Of course Jason accepted this task and assembled a truly impressive band of heroes for this perilous journey.

The quest for the Golden Fleece supposedly took place around 1300 BC in the years before the Trojan War. However, this light stater is from much later, between the first century BC and the first century AD, and is also from a remote geographic location. This explains the degradation of design in imitation of Alexander III (336-323 BC) or Lysimachos (323-281 BC). This interesting coinage series would benefit much from further research and study.

SNG.Copenhagen- ; cf. Lang, page10, 4A (Plate I,6) ; Sear- ;
cf. Zograph, plate XII,18 ; cf. N. Frolova, Caucasian Imitations of Alexander and 
Lysimachus′ Golden Stater, Studies Touratsoglou, pp. 127-133, pl. II, 3 RR
(cf. Triton XV, lot 1189 in good vf ; USD 6.500 + 18%)

Highly interesting historical coin. Very rare.
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