Yordanov, S. The Coinage of the Last King of Thrace – Rhoemetalces III: Types, Nominals, and Iconographic Characteristics
The Coinage of the Last King of Thrace – Rhoemetalces III: Types, Nominals, and Iconographic Characteristics
In: Obscured Balkans, vol. 1, 2024.
Author:
Asst. Prof. Svetoslav Yordanov, Ph.D.
National Institute of Archaeology with Museum
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Received: April 24, 2024
Technical Evaluation: May 10, 2024
Editorial Review: June 4, 2024
Peer Review: June 17, 2024
Accepted: July 17, 2024
Published: November, 7, 2024
10.6276/OB2024.SY
English
Yordanov, S. 2024. ‘The Coinage of the Last King of Thrace – Rhoemetalces III: Types, Nominals, and Iconographic Characteristics.’ Obscured Balkans, vol. 1, pp. 37–43, DOI 10.6276/OB2024.SY, ISSN 3033-1331.
From about 12/11 BC to 45/46 AD, a period which marked the last days of the Thracian Kingdom, it existed as a politically unified organization due to Roman assistance. All the rulers had their own coinages issued in various quantities: From the varied bimetallic coinage of King Rhoemetalces I, including nine types of bronze coins struck in large volumes, and silver issues in two or three denominations; through the rare coins of Cotys and Rhaescuporis and the smaller volumes of bronze coins of King Rhoemetalces II, to the commemorative issues of King Rhoemetalces III, who had five types of bronze coins struck in four denominations. The different iconography of the coins of Rhoemetalces III and the engraving skills invested in the making of the dies and inscriptions distinguish the final issues of Rhoemetalces III from those of his predecessors.
Rhoemetalces III; Thracian coinages; Thracian kingdom; Thrace; Roman provinces
Primry Sources
Cass. Dio, Hist. Rom.: Cassios Dio. Roman history, Loeb Classical Library edition, 1924 <https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/e/roman/texts/cassius_dio/59*.html>, 15.04.2024
Gorny&Mosch, Auction 241, lot 1766, < https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=1655&lot=1766>, 14.04.2024
Numismatik Naumann, Ancient and World coins, Auction 45, lot 364, < https://www.biddr.com/auctions/numismatiknaumann/browse?a=59&l=47689>, 14.04.2024
Tac. Ann.: Tacitus, The Annals, Church, A., Brodribb, W. (eds.), New York: Random House, 1942 <http://data.perseus.org/citations/urn:cts:latinLit:phi1351.phi005.perseus-eng1:2.65>, 16.04.2024
Secondary Sources
Abramzon, M. 2002, ‘The ‘Coronation Coin’ of the Thracian King Rhoemetalces III’, in: Tsetskladze, G. & Boer, J. (eds.) ΤΑΛΑΝΤΑ, Proceedings of the Dutch archaeological and historical society, volumes XXXII–XXXIII (2000–2001), Amsterdam, pp. 239–242.
Dzanev, G. 2008, A new representative of the “Kotys with Rhescuporis” coin type, in: Yordanov, I (ed.), Centenary from the birth of Dr. Vasil Haralanov (1907–2007). Proceedings of the international symposium dedicated to the centennial of the Dr. Vasil Haralanov held in Shumen, Bulgaria, September 13—15, UPU-Design, Shumen, 2008, pp. 305–313 / [Дзанев, Г. 2008, Нов екземпляр от дискусионния монетен тип „Котис с Рескупорис“. – В: Сборник доклади от Международен симпозиум посветен на 100-годишнината от рождението на д-р В. Хараланов. Шумен, 2008, с. 305–313]
Mouchmov, N. 1927, ‘Les monnaies des rois thraces, Annuaire Jubilaire Bibliotheque Nationale a Plovdiv 1925 (1927), Sofia, pp. 195–272. / [Мушмов, Н. 1927, „Монетите на тракийските царе“, Годишник на народната библиотека в Пловдив, София, с. 195–272.]
Paunov, E. 2018, ‘On both shores of Bosphorus: the coinage of Rhoemetalces I, King of Thrace (ca. 12/11 B.C. – A.D. 12/13)’, in: Tekin, O. (ed.), Proceedings of Second International Congress of Money and Numismatics in the Mediterranean World. Antalya 5-8 January 2017, Akmed, Antalya, 2018, pp. 221–243.
Paunov, E. 2021, From Koine to Romanitas. The numismatic evidence for Roman Expansion and Settlement in Moesia and Thrace (ca. 146 BC-AD98/117), Verlag Dr. Kovač, Hamburg, 2021.
RPC I: Roman Provincial Coinage, volume I, From the death of Ceasar to the death of Vitellius (44 BC – AD 69), part I & part II, Burnet, A., Amandry, M., Ripollès, P., The Trustees of the British Museum/Bibliothèque nationale de France, 1992-1998-2006.
Tacheva, M. 1997, History of ancient Bulgarian lands through Hellenistic and Roman era, University publishing house, Sofia, 1997. / [Тачева, М. 1997, История на българските земи в древността през елинистическата епоха, Университетско издателство, София, 1997]
Todorov, I. 1998, Unknown Thracian rulers 542 – 798 a.u.c., Faber, Veliko Tarnovo, 1998 / [Тодоров, И. 1998, Неизвестните тракийски владетели 542 – 798 a.u.c., Фабер, Велико Търново, 1998]
Topalov, S. 1996, Contribution to the study of the tetradrachmas from Thassos during the II coinage period and their similation, Nasko-1701, Sofia, 1996. / [Топалов, С. 1996, Принос към проучване тетрадрахмите на Тасос от II период на монетосечене, подражанията им и свързаните с тях други имитативни монети от земите на Тракия през II–I в. пр. н.е., Наско-1701, София, 1996.]
Topalov, S. 2009, Contribution to the study of the coinage and the history of Thrace from the 2nd century BC to the middle of the 1st century AD, Nasko-1701, Sofia, 2009. / [Топалов, С. 2009, Приноси към проучване монетосеченето и историята в земите на Тракия от II в. пр. н.е. до средата на I в. от н.е., Наско-1701, София, 2009.]
Yordanov, S. 2017, ‘Coinage of Rhoemetalces II’, Numismatics, Sigillography and Еpigraphy 13, 2017, pp. 49–56. / [Йорданов, С. 2017, „Монетосеченето на Реметалк II“, Нумизматика, сфрагистика и епиграфика 13, 2017, с. 49–56]
Yordanov, S. 2020, ‘Collective coin find from the village of Gruevo, near the city of Momchilgrad’, Numismatics, Sigillography and Еpigraphy 16, 2020, pp. 27–46.
Youroukova, Y. 1976, Coins of the ancient Thracians, BAR Supplementary Series 4, Jusautor, Sofia, 1976.
Yorukova, Y. 1992, Coins of the Thracian tribes and rulers, C/O Jusautor, Sofia, 1992. / [Юрукова, Й. 1992, Монетите на тракийските племена и владетели, Jusautor, София, 1992].
