A New Type of Countermark on Bronze Coins of the Scythian Ruler Sariakes

A New Type of Countermark on Bronze Coins of the Scythian ruler Sariakes

Metodi Manov

(summary)

The richness of ancient coin circulation in today Bulgarian lands was expanded by the coin issues of six rulers – not mentioned by the ancient authors – who controlled the lands of today Dobroudga during still not precised period of the Hellenistic epoch. After numerous discussions those six rulers – Kanites, Tanousa(kes?), Aelis, Charaspes, Akrosa(kes?) and Sariakes – were identified as Scythian kings. According to me the period of ruling of the six kings must be put between c. 250/240 and 167 BC.

The majority of authors, who have written on these problems, thought, that Sariakes was the last ruler, with whom the period of ruling of today Dobroudga was over. I also support the consideration, that Sariakes was the last Scythian king in Dobroudga.

Here are presented three specimens of bronze coins of Sariakes of the type:

O. Beardless Herakles r. in lion skin.

R. Bow, quiver, thunderbolt and corn ear. Under the thunderbolt – monogram ПΥР.

Legend: ΒΑΣΙΛ[ΕΩΣ] ΣΑΡΙΑΚ[ΟΥ].

On the reverse of the three coins one and the same as type of countermark appears – “head in round frame”. Besides, the countermarks on the three coins are put almost on one and the same place – also as it is on a specimen already published, where the countermark is defined as “head of Hermes” – down in the field of the reverse. The new specimens presented here are comparatively enough well kept and, of course, the countermarks better discernible. We can very well judge, that the images of the countermarks can not be defined as “head of Hermes” at all.

The coins with the new countermark are with the following metric data:

1 specimen – diametre: 21 mm; weight: 5,63 g.

2 specimen – diametre: 21 mm; weight: 6,00 g.

3 specimen – diametre: 23x22 mm; weight: 6,70 g.

In fact on the first two specimens on the reverse in the field down – just under the monogram – the countermark is: “head of Athena in crested helmet r.” in round frame. On the reverse of the third coin were put two already well known countermarks: “thunderbolt” and “head of Athena in crested helmet r.”.

The appearance of few new specimens of bronze coins of Sariakes with a new type of countermark already gives us some definite clearness, concerning the character of these countermarks. The type of countermark “head of Athena in crested helmet r.” had been defined very long time ago as belonging to Callatis, which was well known as an iconography type for obverse of bronze coins of Callatis of small denomination.

We can suppose now, that the countermark “thunderbolt in round frame” also belongs to some of the Black Sea Greek colonies. Most probably this countermark had been put in Tomi.

As far as we can judge by the scarce number of countermarked bronze coins of Sariakes, up to now only of the type presented, the rest types of coins of this Scythian ruler probably had different destiny – they could be withdrawn and melted, or perhaps just ignored. Only the type of big denomination coins here discussed had been countermarked with “thunderbolt” and “head of Athena in crested helmet r.”. Thus these coins continued to circulate still a certain more time at the coin exchange in the Western-Pontic Greek colonies of Tomi and Callatis, also in their hinterland, reminding for the past glory and the stormy political activity of the last Scythian ruler in the steppes of today Dobroudga – the king Sariakes.