Thraco-Macedonian tribes, The Bisaltae
Octodrachm circa 475-465, AR 28.20 g. C– ΙΣ – Α – Λ – ΤΙ – ΚΩΝ Warrior, wearing causia and holding two spears, standing behind horse. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. AMNG III/2, 4-5 var. (different arrangement of legend). Svoronos, Hellénisme Primitif, 5 -6 var. (different arrangement of legend). SNG Ashmolean 2242 var. (different arrangement of legend). Very rare and in an exceptional state of preservation. A spectacular representation perfectly struck and centred on a full flan and with a light iridescent tone. Good extremely fine Ex Schweizerischer Bankverein 38, 1995, 86 and Tkalec 25 October 1996, 20 sales. The Bisaltae were a Thracian or Pelasgian tribe inhabiting the reaches of the lower Strymon river valley in eastern Macedonia bordering the lands of Thrace to the east. The economy was one of pastoral-nomadism, although the aristocracy certainly exploited the silver mines in the mountainous region between them and the territory of the Krestones and Mygdones to their west, the bullion of which produced this handsome octodrachm. An interesting feature of these large coins, and also the larger issues of the Derrones as well as of Alexander I in Macedonia, is their manufacturing process. From the flattening that is always present on the reverse, it appears that the striking occurred in two distinct stages with the reverses and obverses having being stuck individually. First, the reverse die, which served merely as an ornamental device rather than having the functional purpose of pushing metal into the obverse die, was hammered against the planchet, then the planchet was turned over and struck again from the obverse die. This second striking caused some flattening on the reverse of the coin, as can be seen here in the slight flattening of the raised portions of the four inner divisions of the larger incuse square. The purpose of this unusual manufacturing process is not certain, but probably should be seen in the context of the massive size of the coins themselves. During Xerxes' invasion of Greece in 480 B.C., the Bisaltae refused assistance to the large Persian army. After they vacated the region following their costly campaign against the Greeks, Alexander I of Macedonia conquered and annexed the Bisaltaian homeland. In doing so he came to control the rich silver mines of the Pangaean district and subsequently struck his first coinage, which copies exactly these Bisaltaian octodrachms except that they are inscribed with his own name.