Trm BoNceno-Lnvnr INTBRNATToNAL INsrmurp

oF THE CrRssrcar'Wonro

SCKI PTA
ANilqpA Ancient History Philology,
Arts and Material Culture

TheAlmanac

Volume Four

Sobranie
Moscow 2015
 E.Pavlovska

Goro Srarpns Conr Hoano

FROM SrOprp RpcroN

A small coin hoard of gold staters is kept in the Numismatic Collection of

the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia, which according to the
information provided by the previous owner, was found in the Nerezi Village
near Skopje; however, the context of its discovery remains sadly unknown.
This hoard includes six, well preserved staters of the last three kings of the
Macedonian Argead dynasty - Philip II of Macedon (359-336 BC), Alex-
ander III the Great (336-323 BC) and Philip IIIAnhidaeus (323-317 BC).
Philip II is only represented with one of his staters, produced in the Pel-
la mint, in the period between ca.32312 and ca. 315 BC (Fig. 1). His son,
Alexander the Great, is represented with three staters, which were struck
in three separte mints and characterized by different chronology, as well.
Hence, two of the specimens originate from Asia Minor mints, that is to
say, the flrst one which was issued in the years before, and early after the
-
death of Alexander (ca. 325 ca.320 BC) is from Side(?) in Pamphylia
(Fig. 2; see color plates), while the other one is from Abydus(?) in Troas
(Fig. 3; see color plates) and is an early posthumous, issued between 323
and 317 BC. His last specimen (Fig. a; see color plates) is an early posthu-
mous one, as well (3141313 BC) and is from Sidon in Phoenicia. Both of
Philip III's specimens were also struck in different mints; that is, the first
one (Fig. 5; see color plates) in Sardes,Lydia, in the period from ca.323
to ca. 319 BC, while the other one (Fig. 6) in Babylon, Babylonia, in the
period between ca.323 and ca. 317 BC.
It becomes evident that, the early posthumous staters in the name and
of the type of Alexander, are predominant. Actually, all coins in the hoard
were struck during the rule ofArrhidaeus, including his own specimens, as
well. However, Alexander's stater no. 4 makes an exception; it is from the
time of Cassander (317197 BC) - 3141313 BC. This year marks the date
of the last coin in the hoard, as well. Regarding the mints that produced the
coins, the ones of eastern provenance prevail, excluding Philip II's coin,
which is from the royal Macedonian mint at Pella.
Judging upon the level of their preservation, which is indeed high, it
308 AHrucHa, HyMIBMaTI,IKa

Fig. 1. Gold stater. Plilip II. Pe1la. ca.32312 and ca. 315 BC

seems that these royal Macedonian staters were not circulating very long
time; they were deposited into a hoard which might have contained even
more specimens. However, it should be kept in mind that, unfortunately,
the context and the precise location ofits discovery are not known, except
the information that the hoard originates from the Nerezi Village. Hence,
one could possibly assume that it might have be a grave find.
Namely, on the north side of the foot of the Vodno Mountain, above the
Sredno Nerezi Village, the archeological site Gradishte is located, where
a fortified settlement existed during the early antiquity. Its necropolis was
located on the eastem slope, that is to say, covering a part ofthe modern
settlement of Zhdanecr. One of the graves excavated there in 19712 w-
covered a gold stater of Philip Arrhidaeus3. Two decades later, there was
a chance find of a ritual burial in a tomb dating back to the end of the 5m

lMikuliii 1.1999:123.
2
Sokolovska, Pa5i6 1975: 231144.
3Mikuldi6 1.1999:123.
 E.Pavlovska. Gold Staters Coin Hoard fiom Skopje Region 309

or the beginning of the 4ft centuries BC. It is considered that an unknown

Paeonian dynast and his companions were buried herea.
The coin hoards containing gold issues ofthe Argeads are not frequent
discoveries in the Republic of Macedonia; however, the Nerezi hoard
is not exclusively unique find of this kind originating from its territory.
Namely, during the field survey and rescue excavations in 2008, a small
early antique gold jewelry treasure was discovered at the archaeologi-
cal site Ormankov grob, at the Tremnik Village near Negotino. Besides
four Asia Minor fype of fibulae, a small two-segment capsule, massive
reliefplaque depicting Poseidon and parts ofa necklace, it also contained
two staters of the Macedonian kings Philip II and Alexander the Great,
respectively. The researchers consider that this hoard was part of a rich
early antique tomb, which probably was robbed during the Roman pe-
riod and then deposited near the heroon located on the early Roman ne-
cropolis near Tremnik Village; it is also suggested that it belonged to a
local Paeonian nobleman, probably to some of the distinguished officers
from Alexander's Eastem campaign5. Philip's stater is posthumous and
belongs to the same period as the one from the Nerezi hoard (32312-
315 BC), but, it was struck in the Amphipolis mint6. Alexander's stater is
an issue of the Aradus mint in Phoenicia, of the period between ca. 328
andca.320BC1.
There are data indicating that in l9l7 in the Topolchani Village, near
Prilep, a coin hoard of ca. 200 gold staters and distaters of Alexander the
Great, deposited into a pot after 323 BC was discovered (IGCH 399). The
so-called "Paeonian Hoard" of 1968, which was sold separately at two auc-
tions lateq should be mentioned as well (IGCH 410). In the catalogues it
was stated that it had originated from the northem part of the Republic
of Macedonia (Paeonian Hoard, Parke-Bernet; Paeonian Hoard, Sotheby),
although there is a great possibility that this one together with the Rezhanci
hoard from the Pemik district, might have represented one and the same
treasure8. The 'Paeonian Hoard' is of mixed character, consisting of both
gold and silver. All of the ca. 68 gold issues belonged to the Macedoni-
an kings Philip II (23 lifetime and posthumous staten) and Alexander Itr
(3 lifetime distaters and 34 lifetime and posthumous staters). Regarding
the silver ones, ca.l900 tetradrachms belonged to the Paeonian kings Lyc-
ceius (13) and Patraus (ca.1700-1800, 34 imitations). The deposition date
of this hoard is 315-310 BC.

5
Angelovski 2009 : 213-220.
6
Le Rider 1977 : Pl. 82. Ns 253-256.
TPrice 1991. Ns 3315.
8Paunov 2005:555-562.
-oMikrldidc.tggo:183-199.
310 AgruqHar HyMfl3NIarnKa

ii lrji1i;i: li
'rrr,iil
rl.r

Fig. 6. Gold stater. Philip III. Babylon. ca.323 and ca. 317 BC
 E.Pavlovska. Gold Staters Coin Hoard from Skopje Region 3I I
Hoards of similar composition, that is those containing gold issues in
the name and of the type of Alexander the Great, and of his father and half
brother as well, are being discovered all over the Balkan Peninsula.
Alexander's coin circulation from the hoard evidence on the Balkans,
was discussed by Y.Touratsogloue; tracing the geographical distribution of
the gold, both homogeneous (of gold only) and mixed hoards (of gold and
silver) were considered. Their presence has been mainly recorded on the
territory ofThrace, i.e. in the central and eastem part ofBulgaria, on the
geographic territory of Macedonia (Republic of Macedonia and Northern
Greece) and in the areas of mainland Greece (Peloponnese, Thessaly, At-
tica, Arcanania). Hence, their concealment covers the period between 340
and 275 BC. These hoards, besides the Macedonian ones, incorporate the
Asia Minor and the Eastern mints, as wellro.
The coinage ofAlexander the Great was undoubtedly one of the richest
and the most popular imperial coinages in the history. However, ascending
the Macedonian throne, Alexander faced the existing financial problems
immediately. Namely, prior his death, Philip II had already begun the pre-
parations for the Persian campaign, whose successful outcome required
both an army and large amounts of cash. At that moment, the Macedonian
royal treasury contained only 60 talents in silver, as well as an inherited
debt from his father ofca. 500 talents. In order to fulfill the plans, Alex-
ander had to borrow additional 800 talents, increasing his debts to 1300
talents. Before the beginning of his Eastern campaign, he managed to set-
tle the relations with the Balkan neighbors, defeating the Thracians, the
Triballi, the Getae and the Illyrians. The financial gains from this Balkan
expedition allowed him to decrease the debt and by the spring of 334 BC
it amounted only 200 talents; moreover, the treasury contained 70 talents,
which could maintain his army for only thirty days. However, after the
capture of Sardes and the rich Persian treasury in the summer of 334 BC,
each consecutive victory later, provided him new influx ofwealthrl. Hence,
between 334 and 330 BC, the period from the beginning of the campaign
to the conquest of the Persian Empire, Alexander's treasury amounted
180 000 talents, i.e. 4680 tons ofsilver or 468 tons ofgoldt2.
The course of the expedition itself imposed the need of large amounts
of money, that were produced in both gold and silver, not only during
his lifetime, but after that, also, by his successors, up to the beginning of
the I't century BC, when they got character of a civic coinager3. Besides

Tr*rt*gtou 1998: 71-101.

'roTouratsoglou
1998:. 74.
ttPrice 1991:25--27.
12
Touratsoglou 1998: 7 4.
t3Price 1991:79.
312 Aurr.mar ryuu:uar:ura

the mints in Macedoni4 the ones opened in the conquered territories in

Asia and Egypt functioned, too, their total number being 26 mints during
Alexander's lifetimeta. They met the enormous needs for money, required
for financing the numerous army whose main body was composed of Ma-
cedonians, even though he also hired mercenaries from the neighboring
peoples (Thracians, Illyrians, Paeonians, Agrianes, Triballi, Odrisae, Ge-
tae, Hellenes). They were usually paid after being discharged; but besides
the salaries, they also received additional premiums in cash. Likewise, they
were allowed to take some of the objects seized as booty - vessels or jew-
elry acquired during the captures and pillage of the enemy cities.
The return ofthese veterans and mercenaries into their native regions
took place between 330 and 275/250 BC, a period of great influx ofwealth
in the Balkansrs. In this particular timeframe, actually, the deposition of the
Balkan coin hoards containing gold staters of Alexander III, Philip II and
ofArrhidaeus, was concentrated; they were very often complemented with
jewelry or vessels made of precious metals (gold/silver).
The Nerezi coin hoard fits perfectly well into this image, too. The Sko-
pje region, which was inhabited by theAgrianes, atthe period of its burial
-
3l4l3l3 BC was part of the Paeonian Kingdom, withAudoleon (315-255/4
BC) on its throner6. In the ancient sources the Agrianes were recorded as
Macedonian allies, both during the reigns of Philip tr, and later of Alex-
ander III, being part of his army in the Eastern campaign (Arr. L 5,6, 141'
lI. 7, 9; lII. 12, 13;, Diod. XYIJ. 17 .4; Curt. Ruf. rv. 13). Undoubtedly, this
small treasure belonged to one of these soldiers, but, due to the lack of in-
formation, the context of its discovery the exact location and the complete
content of the hoard will remain unknown.

CATALOGUE

Philip II of Macedon (359-336 BC)

Obv.Laveate head ofApollo, r.
Rey. Charioteer driving galloping biga right, holding kentron in right
hand, reins in left.

l. Rev. [OIIAIIIfIOY (in the exergue); Boeotian shield below; snake

above.

taPrice 1991:72.
r5Touratsoglou 1998: 75.
r6Sokolovska 1990: 9-34; Mikuldi4 Sokolovska 1990: 90; Petova
1999:6513.
 E.Pavlovska. Gold Staters Coin Hoard from Skopje Region 3 I3

Pell4 ca.323/2 - ca.3l5 BC.

AV; 8.56 g; 19.0 mm; 3oo.
Le Rider 1977. Pl.'12, nos. 600402.
Inv. No.: NBRM 2004/lll.

Alexander the Great (336-323 BC)

Obv.Head of Athena r., wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated

with coiled snake.
Rev. Nike standing to 1., holding wreath in r. hand and stylis in l.

2. Rev. BA->IAEO> /AAEEAN P[OY]; below wing to l. OI, A>.

Side (?), ca. 325 - ca. 320 BC.
AV;8,53 g;17,0mm;2N.
Price 1991. No. 2959.
Inv. No.: NBRM 20041114.

3. Rev. AAEEANAPOY; in field to l. monogram MH and pentagram;

below wing to l. snake.
Abydus (?),323117 BC
AV; 8,56 g; 19,0 mm;3m.
Price 1991. No. 1523.
Inv. No.: NBRM 2004/112.

4. Obv. Corinthian helmet decorated with griffin (?)

Rev. AAEEANAP[OY]; in field to l. Y.
Sidon,3l4l313 BC
AV;8,61 g;17,5 mm; 1100.
Price 1991. No. 3507.
Inv. No.: NBRM 2004/l/3.

Philip III Arrhidaeus (323-317 BC)

Obv.Head of Athena r., wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated

with coiled snake.
Rev. Nike standing to 1., holding wreath in r. hand and stylis in 1.

5. Rev. OIAIIilO[YI; in field to l. TI; below wing to L star.

Sardes, ca. 323 - ca. 319 BC.
AV;8,49 g;17,0 mm; l2m.
Price 1991. No. P85.
Inv. No.: NBRM 20041115.
314 AnrFrH a, rrylflBMarr,rKa

6. Rev. B-A>IAEQ> / IOI]AIruOY; below wing to 1. AY.

Babylon, ca.323 - ca.3l7 BC.
AV; 8,52 g; 19,0 mm; 1100.
Price 1991. No. P178.
Inv. No.: NBRM 200411/6.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Angelovski 2009 - Angelovski K. Ostava so zlaten nakit od Tremnik, Make-

donsko nasledstvo 34-35 ll Gold Treasure from Tremnik, Macedonian Heritage.
2009 . 3415 . P. 2t3120.
Le Rider 1977 - Le Rider G. Le monayage d'argent et d'or de Philippe II:
Frappd en Mac6doine de 359 d294.P.,1977.
Mikuldid G. 1999 - Mikuliit G. Zhdanec, Skopje 1990, ranoantichko pogre-
buvanje (Zhdanec, Skopje l990,Ear1y ancientburial) llMaceoniaeActaArchaeo-
logica. 1999. 12:1990-1991. P. 183-199.
MikuldidI.1999 - Mikuliit L Antichki gradovi vo Makedonija:Antike Stiidte
in der Republik Makedonien. Skopje, 1999.
Mikuldi6, Sokolovska 1990 - Mikuliit L, Sokolovska V. Grobnica vo Brazda
kaj Skopje (Eine Herrschersgruft in Brasda bei Skopje) ll Macedoniae Acta Ar-
chaeologica. 1990. 1 1 : 1987-1989. P. 79-92.
Paeonian Hoard, Parke-Bernet -The Extremely Important Greek Hoard, be-
ing Coins in Gold and Silver of Northern Macedonia. Parke-Bernet Galleries Inc.
New York 9 December 1969.
Paeonian Hoard, Sotheby - Catalogue of the Extremely Important Paeonian
Hoard, being Coins in Gold and Silver of the Kings of Macedon and Silver of the
Independent Kingdom of Paeonia. Sotheby & Co., London 16 April 1969.
Paunov 2005 - Paunov E. Zlatni stateri ot monetnoto sdkrovi5de ot s: ReZanci,
Pemi5ko (IGCH 411) : Gold Staters from the Rejantsi Coin Hoard (IGCH 441),
Pernik District, Western Bulgaria // Stephanos Archaeologicos: in Honorem Pro-
fessoris Ludmili Getov. Sofia, 2005.P.555-562 (StudiaArchaeologicaUniversita-
tis Serdicensis; Suppl. IV).
Petrova 1999 - Petrova E Pajonija vo II i I milenium pr. n.e. Skopje, 1999.
Price 1991 - Price M.J. The Coinage in the Name ofAlexander the Great and
Philip Arrhidaeus . Zijrich; London, 1991.
Sokolovska 1990 - Sokolovska V Pajonskoto pleme Agrijani i vrskite so
Damastion: La tribu pdonienne d'Agriens et leurs rapports avec Damastion ll
Maceoniae ActaArchaeologica. 1990. 11: 1987-1989. P. 9-34.
Sokolovska, PaSi6 1975 - Sokolovska V., Paii6 R. Eden grob od Zhdxrcc:Un
tombeau de Zhdanec ll Zbornik naArheoloshkiot muzej na Makedonija(1967-
197 4). 197 5. VI-V[. Skopje, 197 5. P. 231244.
Touratsoglou 1998 - Tburatsoglou Y. Back to the Future. Alexander the
Great's Silver and Gold in the Balkans: The Hoard Evidence // Coins of Macedo-
nia and Rome: Essays in Honour of Charles Hersh /A.Burnett, U.Wartenberg,
R.Witschonke (eds.). L., 1998. P. 71-101.