52. Drahma Coin, Gemini type - the two faces of the Danube, Histria, 434-300 BC, the first coin minted on the current territory of Romania, silver

In the 5th century BC, Histria entered a new phase of economic development, marking the onset of coin workshops. Between 480-475 BC, the Greek colony began issuing its own coins, the famous silver drachmas, considered the first coins in the current territory of Romania. These coins had on the obverse the emblem of the city, represented by an eagle above a dolphin, facing left, alongside the inscription in Greek IΣTPI (ISTRI), naming the colony. According to Nicolae Iorga, these symbols, the eagle holding a dolphin in its claws, were also used by other Greek cities, like Sinope and Olbia. On the reverse of the Histrian coins, two human heads are noticed, one of them positioned inverted, probably representing Dioscuri or other guardian deities of the city's trade. The silver drachmas issued in Histria circulated in a fairly wide area, including Dobruja, and were also discovered in Muntenia and Moldova. Over time, the weight of the Histrian drachma decreased, going from 7-8 grams in the 5th century BC to 5-6 grams in the 4th century BC. In addition to drachmas, other silver divisionary coins were also struck in Histria, such as the hemidrachma (half drachma), a quarter of drachma, the obol (equivalent to 1/6 of a drachma), and the hemiobol (equivalent to 1/2 of an obol or 1/12 of a drachma).

Dimensions

custom d=18 mm

Description

silver

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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