Gold Stater Koson type

Features

Issuer Uncertain Dacian tribes (Dacians)
Type Non-circulating coin
Years 44 BC - 42 BC
Value 1 Gold Stater = 10 Silver Stater = 20 Drachm
Currency Drachm
Composition Gold
Weight 8.5 g
Diameter 19 mm
Shape Round (irregular)
Technique Hammered
Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑
Demonetized Yes
Number
N#
138240
References Fr# 124,
Arthur L. Friedberg, Ira S. Friedberg, Robert Friedberg; 2017. Gold Coins of the World : From Ancient Times to the Present (9th edition). Coin & Currency Institute, Williston, Vermont, United States.
RPC Online I# 1701A
Roman Provincial Coinage (https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/)

Obverse

Roman consul accompanied by two lictors (bodyguards) carrying fasces (axe-like weapons) -possibly inspired by the silver denarii issued by Marcus Junius Brutus in 54 BC - see Junia denarius.
- Variant with BR monogram to left (RPC#1701A) -It has been postulated that the BR refers to Brutus. An alternate view is that the letters relates to B (sileus), that is, king, as in King Koson;
- Variant without monogram (RPC#1701B).

Script: Greek

Lettering: ΚΟΣΩΝ

Translation: Koson

Reverse

Eagle standing left on sceptre, holding wreath (inspired by the silver denarii issued by Pomponius Rufus in 73 BC)

Comments

It is thought that "Koson" is the name of an otherwise historically unrecorded Dacian king, though he may be identical to the Cotison mentioned by Horace and Suetonius.

Recently, both monogrammed and non-monogrammed versions were examined for their composition. These studies provided a highly sensitive elemental fingerprint for each coin. It was found that all coins without the monogram were made from native alluvial gold, (that is, had trace amounts of tin) the same composition found for other Dacian gold artifacts (for example, bracelets) that were made at the time. In contrast, all the coins with the BR monogram lacked tin, and were of highly purified gold. This finding leads to an intriguing possibility – BR-monogrammed coins were produced by Brutus using highly refined gold, and non-monogrammed coins were imitations by Thracians or Dacians using their own methods and local alluvial gold.

See also

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Date VG F VF XF AU UNC
ND (44 BC - 42 BC)  Photo $ 2100

Values in the table above are expressed in USD. They are based on evaluations by Numista users and sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only; they are not intended to be relied upon for buying, selling or exchanging. Numista does not buy or sell coins or banknotes.

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Past sales

Pictures Sale Date Grade Sold price
Picture 1 of a sold Gold Stater (Koson type)Picture 1 of a sold Gold Stater (Koson type)
Heritage Auctions
2024 January 8 NYINC Platinum Session World & Ancient Coins Signature® Auction - New York 3113
Lot 30024
Internet Archive
8 Jan 2024 UNC
(NGC MS 5/5 - 4/5)
USD 4080.00
(incl. buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold Gold Stater (Koson type)
Leu Numismatik
Web Auction 28
Lot 1
Internet Archive
9 Dec 2023 UNC
(MS64)
USD 1773.61
(CHF 1600.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold Gold Stater (Koson type)
Leu Numismatik
Web Auction 28
Lot 2
Internet Archive
9 Dec 2023 UNC
(MS64)
USD 1884.46
(CHF 1700.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold Gold Stater (Koson type)
Leu Numismatik
Web Auction 28
Lot 3
Internet Archive
9 Dec 2023 UNC USD 1995.31
(CHF 1800.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold Gold Stater (Koson type)
Leu Numismatik
Web Auction 28
Lot 4
Internet Archive
9 Dec 2023 UNC USD 2882.12
(CHF 2600.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold Gold Stater (Koson type)Picture 1 of a sold Gold Stater (Koson type)
Heritage Auctions
2023 August 17 - 19 ANA World & Ancient Coins Platinum Session and Signature® Auction 3109
Lot 32056
Internet Archive
18 Aug 2023 UNC
(NGC MS 5/5 - 4/5)
USD 2100.00
(incl. buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold Gold Stater (Koson type)
Katz
Auction 73
Lot 129
Internet Archive
28 Dec 2022 UNC USD 1769.65
(EUR 1641.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold Gold Stater (Koson type)
Leu Numismatik
Web Auction 28
Lot 5
Internet Archive
9 Dec 2023 XF USD 1441.06
(CHF 1300.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
See the sales

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