Coin hoard with imitations of Philip II from Bulgaria

МАИАСП № 12. 2020

Group ІІ

No. 1 23.5/23.5 mm; 7.65 g; 5 h. (fig. 2).

Result of X-ray fluorescence analysis:

Obv. — Ag 86.17; Cu 11.17; Zn 1.51; Ni 0.80; W 0.22; Pb 0.135

Rev. — Ag 89.99; Cu 8.04; Zn 1.37; Ni 0.26; W 0.21; Pb 0.138

No. 2 23.5/22.5 mm; 7.50 g; 10 h

No. 3 23/21.5 mm; 7.50 g; 5 h

No. 4 23/22 mm; 6.95 g; 9 h

No. 5 24/23 mm; 7.30 g; 5 h

No. 6 22/21.5 mm; 6.80 g; 5 h

No. 7 24/24 mm; 7.30 g; 1 h

No. 8 25/23.5 mm; 7.45 g; 8 h

No. 9 23.5/23.5 mm; 7.50 g; 6 h

No. 10 22/22 mm; 7.20 g; 3 h

No. 11 22.5/22 mm; 7.20 g; 4 h

No. 12 23/23 mm; 7.40 g; 12 h

No. 13 23/22.5 mm; 7.65 g; 6 h

No. 14 24.5/23.5 mm; 7.30 g; 6 h

Group ІІI

No. 1 23.5/22 mm; 8.10 g; 3 h. (fig. 3).

Result of X-ray fluorescence analysis:

Obv. — Ag 85.83; Cu 11.92; Zn 1.44; Ni 0.67; Pb 0.134

Rev. — Ag 85.49; Cu 11.53; Zn 1.72; Ni 0.67; Fe 0.46; Pb 0.135

No. 2 23.5/21.5 mm; 7.35 g; 12 h

No. 3 22.5/21.5 mm; 7.15 g; 1 h

No. 4 24/21.5 mm; 7.65 g; 2 h

No. 5 23/22 mm; 7.50 g; 9 h

Group ІV

No. 1 23/22 mm; 7.25 g; 3 h. (fig. 4).

Result of X-ray fluorescence analysis:

Obv. — Ag 80.15; Cu 16.51; Zn 1.65; Ni 1.58; Pb 0.123

Rev. — Ag 75.32; Cu 18.94; Ni 3.04; Zn 1.93; Fe 0.64; Pb 0.134

No. 2 22.5/21.5 mm; 6.95 g; 3 h

No. 3 22/21.5 mm; 7.45 g; 6 h

No. 4 23/22 mm; 7.05 g; 3 h

No. 5 22.5/21.5mm; 6.70 g; 6 h

Group V

No. 1 21.5/21.5 mm; 6.85 g; 3 h. (fig. 5).

Result of X-ray fluorescence analysis:

Obv. — Ag 83.38; Cu 14.69; Zn 0.95; Ni 0.85; Pb 0.130

Rev. — Ag 68.04; Cu 29.22; Ni 1.31; Zn 1.29; Pb 0.136

No. 2 22.5/21.5 mm; 7.55 g; 12 h

No. 3 23.5/24 mm; 7.15 g; 6 h

No. 4 23/23 mm; 7.40 g; 8 h

No. 5 24/23 mm; 7.30 g; 6 h

МАИАСП № 12. 2020

Group VI

No. 1 24/22.5 mm; 7.35 g; 12 h. (fig. 6).

Result of X-ray fluorescence analysis:

Obv. — Ag 94.06; Cu 13.06; Ni 1.52; Zn 1.26; Pb 0.132

Rev. — Ag 78.38; Cu 18.18; Zn 1.93; Ni 1.35; Pb 0.162

No. 2 24/23.5 mm; 7.50 g; 9 h

No. 3 22.5/22 mm; 7.40 g; 3 h

No. 4 22.5/21.5 mm; 7.20 g; 8 h

Group VII

No. 1 23/20 mm; 7.05 g; 3 h. (fig. 7).

Result of X-ray fluorescence analysis:

Obv. — Ag 82.89; Cu 14.87; Zn 1.27; Ni 0.85; Pb 0.132

Rev. — Ag 79.60; Cu 17.86; Zn 1.43; Ni 0.95; Pb 0.154

No. 2 23/21.5 mm; 7.50 g; 3 h

Group VIII

No. 1 23/23 mm; 7.70 g; 4 h. (fig. 8).

Result of X-ray fluorescence analysis:

Obv. — Ag 87.70; Cu 9.97; Zn 1.18; Ni 0.97; Pb 0.172

Rev. — Ag 79.34; Cu 17.29; Ni 1.63; Zn 1.58; Pb 0.157

No. 2 22.5/23 mm; 7.30 g; 5 h

No. 3 22/21.5 mm; 7.40 g; 12 h

No. 4 21/22 mm; 7.35 g; 9 h

No. 5 22/24 mm; 7.70 g; 12 h

No. 6 21.5/23 mm; 7.40 g; 11 h

No. 7 22.5/23 mm; 7.30 g; 4 h

No. 8 22/22.5 mm; 7.40 g; 3 h

No. 9 21.5/23.5 mm; 7.35 g; 9 h

No. 10 23/22.5 mm; 8.00 g; 3 h

No. 11 21.5/24 mm; 7.15 g; 3 h

No. 12 23/22.5 mm; 7.45 g; 12 h

Group IX

No. 1 23/22 mm; 6.80 g; 4 h (Fig. 9).

Result of X-ray fluorescence analysis:

Obv. — Ag 74.90; Cu 21.39; Zn 2.12; Ni 1.41; Pb 0.181

Rev. — Ag 84.75; Cu 11.81; Ni 1.93; Zn 1.18; Pb 0.33

No. 2 23/22 mm; 7.80 g; 9 h

No. 3 23/21.5 mm; 7.15 g; 9 h

No. 4 23.5/23.5 mm; 7.80 g; 6 h

No. 5 22/21.5 mm; 7.25 g; 12 h

No. 6 23/22.5 mm; 7.45 g; 7 h

No. 7 21.5/21.5 mm; 7.00 g; 9 h

No. 8 23/22 mm; 7.65 g; 4 h

МАИАСП № 12. 2020

Group X

No. 1 22.5/21.5 mm; 7.35 g; 2 h (Fig. 10).

Result of X-ray fluorescence analysis:

Obv. — Ag 82.33; Cu 14.35; Zn 1.87; Ni 1.29; Pb 0.160

Rev. — Ag 77.37; Cu 18.81; Zn 1.98; Ni 1.68; Pb 0.163

No. 2 24/21.5 mm; 7.70 g; 1 h

No. 3 22.5/22 mm; 7.50 g; 6 h

No. 4 23.5/21 mm; 7.05 g; 3 h

No. 5 22.5/23 mm; 7.35 g; 3 h

No. 6 22/22 mm; 7.50 g; 2 h

No. 7 22/22.5 mm; 7.25 g; 2 h

No. 8 23/22 mm; 7.45 g; 5 h

No. 9 23/21.5 mm; 7.75 g; 3 h

No. 10 23/21.5 mm; 7.75 g; 3 h

No. 11 23.5/21 mm; 7.40 g; 4 h

No. 12 24/22.5 mm; 7.50 g; 12 h

No. 13 23/22.5 mm; 7.35 g; 3 h

Group XI

No. 1 22.5/21.5 mm; 7.35 g; 12 h (Fig. 11).

Result of X-ray fluorescence analysis:

Obv. — Ag 92.03; Cu 7.53; W 0.20; Ni 0.14; Pb 0.094

Rev. — Ag 81.49; Cu 17.31; Zn 0.58; Ni 0.34; Os 0.18; Pb 0.098

No. 2 23/21.5 mm; 7.25 g; 4 h

No. 3 22.5/23.5 mm; 7.40 g; 9 h

No. 4 21.5/22 mm; 7.20 g; 7 h

No. 5 23/22 mm; 6.90 g; 4 h

No. 6 21.5/22.5 mm; 7.70 g; 2 h

No. 7 24/22.5 mm; 7.50 g; 1 h

No. 8 21.5/21.5 mm; 6.45 g; 8 h

No. 9 22.5/23 mm; 7.50 g; 9 h

No. 10 23/22.5 mm; 6.90 g; 6 h

No. 11 21.5/21.5 mm; 7.00 g; 3 h

No. 12 22/23.5 mm; 7.15 g; 6 h

No.13 21.5/22 mm; 7.20 g; 9 h

No. 14 23.5/20.5 mm; 7.30 g; 6 h

No. 15 22/21.5 mm; 7.10 g; 11 h

No. 16 22.5/22 mm; 7.25 g; 2 h

No. 17 22/22.5 mm; 7.25 g; 7 h

Group XII

No. 1 22/21 mm; 6.75 g; 9 h (Fig. 12).

Result of X-ray fluorescence analysis:

Obv. — Ag 57.59; Cu 34.96; Ni 3.86; Zn 3.08; Fe 0.32; Pb 0.191

Rev. — Ag 56.51; Cu 36.38; Ni 3.69; Zn 2.86; Fe 0.38; Pb 0.175

No. 2 22.5/23 mm; 7.15 g; 9 h

No. 3 22/22 mm; 7.30 g; 3 h

МАИАСП № 12. 2020

No. 4 23/24.5 mm; 7.35 g; 3 h

No. 5 22.5/22 mm; 7.15 g; 9 h

No. 6 22/23 mm; 7.65 g; 9 h

No. 7 22/22 mm; 7.15 g; 9 h

Group XIII

No. 1 22/23 mm; 7.45 g; 6 h (Fig. 13).

Result of X-ray fluorescence analysis:

Obv. — Ag 62.90; Cu 34.11; Zn 1.83; Ni 0.54; Fe 0.48; Pb 0.130

Rev. — Ag 81.26; Cu 16.24; Zn 1.37; Ni 0.99; Pb 0.144

No. 2 22.5/21.5 mm; 7.50 g; 12 h

No. 3 22/21.5 mm; 7.05 g; 12 h

No. 4 23.5/23.5 mm; 7.05 g; 6 h

No. 5 23/23 mm; 7.00 g; 3 h

No. 6 23.5/23 mm; 7.05 g; 9 h

No. 7 22.5/23 mm; 7.60 g; 6 h

No. 8 24.5/23.5 mm; 6.80 g; 3 h

No. 9 21.5/23.5 mm; 7.30 g; 12 h

Group XIV (No analysis)

No. 1 21.5/22 mm; 7.15 g; 9 h (Fig. 14).

No. 2 22/22 mm; 7.30 g; 9 h

No. 3 22/22 mm; 7.05 g; 2 h

No. 4 22/20.5 mm; 6.40 g; 12 h

No. 5 22.5/21.5 mm; 7.30 g; 6 h

No. 6 22/22.5 mm; 7.50 g; 12 h

No. 7 23/21.5 mm; 7.05 g; 4 h

No. 8 22/21.5 mm; 7.40 g; 3 h

No. 9 22.5/21.5 mm; 7.30 g; 8 h

No. 10 22.5/23 mm; 6.80 g; 12 h

No. 11 23/22.5 mm; 6.45 g; 6 h

Group XV

No. 1 21.5/22 mm; 7.20 g; 8 h (Fig. 15).

Result of X-ray fluorescence analysis:

Obv. — Ag 74.10; Cu 23.98; Zn 0.77; Fe 0.52; Ni 0.46; Pb 0.176

Rev. — Ag 81.50; Cu 14.39; Ni 1.84; Zn 1.28; Fe 0.79; Pb 0.195

No. 2 22/22 mm; 6.25 g; 6 h

No. 3 23/22.5 mm; 7.45 g; 12 h

No. 4 22.5/22.5 mm; 7.40 g; 9 h

No. 5 23/23 mm; 6.85 g; 7 h

No. 6 25/22.5 mm; 6.90 g; 6 h

No. 7 22/22.5 mm; 7.20 g; 6 h

No. 8 24.5/24.5 mm; 7.25 g; 12 h

No. 9 22/23 mm; 7.15 g; 3 h

No. 10 22.5/23 mm; 7.35 g; 3 h

No. 11 23/22 mm; 7.20 g; 9h

No. 12 22/23 mm; 7.15 g; 9 h

МАИАСП № 12. 2020

Group XVI

No. 1 22/22 mm; 7.00 g; 7 h (Fig. 16).

Result of X-ray fluorescence analysis:

Obv. — Ag 76.34; Cu 21.27; Zn 1.57; Ni 0.74; Pb 0.080

Rev. — Ag 77.96; Cu 19.81; Zn 1.24; Ni 0.89; Pb 0.092

No. 2 20.5/23.5 mm; 6.85 g; 8 h

No. 3 21.5/22.5 mm; 7.20 g; 3 h

No. 4 22.5/23 mm; 7.25 g; 6 h

No. 5 23/22 mm; 7.25 g; 12 h

No. 6 22.5/22 mm; 7.30 g; 12 h

No. 7 22/22 mm; 7.05 g; 3 h

No. 8 23/21.5 mm; 7.05 g; 3 h

No. 9 22/22.5 mm; 7.10 g; 9 h

No. 10 22/22.5 mm; 7.00 g; 3 h

No. 11 22.5/21.5 mm; 7.30 g; 8 h

No. 12 22/22.5 mm; 7.20 g; 8 h

No. 13 22.5/23 mm; 7.25 g; 8 h

No. 14 23/21.5 mm; 6.65 g; 3 h

No. 15 22.5/22 mm; 7.30 g; 2 h

No. 16 22.5/23 mm; 7.60 g; 12 h

No. 17 22.5/23 mm; 8.00 g; 3 h

No. 18 22.5/22.5 mm; 7.55 g; 3 h

No. 19 22.5/22 mm; 7.25 g; 3 h

No. 20 22.5/21.5 mm; 6.90 g; 9 h

No. 21 23.5/22.5 mm; 6.80 g; 6 h

No. 22 23.5/22.5 mm; 8.20 g; 1 h

No. 23 22/22 mm; 7.50 g; 12 h

No. 24 23/23 mm; 7.70 g; 6 h

No. 25 22/23 mm; 7.00 g; 2 h

No. 26 22.5/22.5 mm; 7.10 g; 1 h

No. 27 23/23 mm; 7.05 g; 9 h

No. 28 22.5/22 mm; 7.10 g; 3 h

Group XVII

No. 1 24/23.5 mm; 7.55 g; 6 h (Fig. 17).

Result of X-ray fluorescence analysis:

Obv. — Ag 85.71; Cu 10.94; Zn 1.82; Ni 1.38; Pb 0.144

Rev. — Ag 83.93; Cu 12.27; Zn 2.14; Ni 1.52; Pb 0.141

No. 2 24/23.5 mm; 7.60 g; 8 h

No. 3 24/22.5 mm; 7.40 g; 12 h

No. 4 23.5/23 mm; 7.00 g; 12 h

No. 5 24.5/22 mm; 7.10 g; 3 h

No. 6 23/23.5 mm; 7.25 g; 8 h

No. 7 22.5/22.5 mm; 6.95 g; 3 h

No. 8 23/23 mm; 7.95 g; 5 h

No. 9 24/23.5 mm; 7.15 g; 12 h

No. 10 22.5/23 mm; 7.35 g; 11 h

МАИАСП № 12. 2020

No. 11 22.5/22.5 mm; 7.40 g; 9 h

No. 12 23.5/24 mm; 7.30 g; 3 h

No. 13 23/22.5 mm; 7.05 g; 3 h

No. 14 23/22 mm; 7.15 g; 6 h

A fragment of an object

Result of X-ray fluorescence analysis:

a/ Ag 94.87; Cu 2.27; Fe 1.54; Au 0.91; Pb 0.250; Os 0.17

b/ Ag 96.05; Fe 1.60; Cu 1.38; Au 0.77; Pb 0.163; Ni 0.034

All coins without exception are of the same type. They can be quoted as follows (Forrer 1908: 150, Taf. XXXIII: 287 ; Dessewffy 1910: tab. 17—18, No. 417—441; Allen 1987: 26, 47—48, fig. 4, pl. III: 39—45 ; Pink 1974: 54, 77—78, No. 3, Taf. XVI: 304—305 ; Castelin 1985: 52, 52, 164—165, No. 152, nos. 1317—1325; Göbl 1972: Taf. 26, Sattelkopfpferd, No. 300/7—300/14, 310—311; Preda1973: 216—247, 526—531, pl. XLII—XLVII; Kostial 2003: 112—117, No. 623—651).

The publications mentioned above do not provide information on discovered coin hoards south of the Danube River from the territory of Bulgaria.

In general, the coin type is known and recognized as Mit Sattelkopfpferd and is positioned as Südosten . The term has been accepted by most of the researchers from continental Europe. D. Allen defines the coins as type C2 (d).

C. Preda has worked out and released the hoards from Romania and named the coin type according to the area where they have the highest concentration. He has labeled them as Tip Virteju-Bucuresti . Because it is difficult to spell the name, we present it abbreviated by its two initial letters V-B.

C. Preda localizes a total of 45 coin hoards of the mentioned coin type along the Lower Danube. According to him, there are 40 hoards containing this coin type discovered in Romania and 5 coming from Bulgaria (Preda 1973: 215—247). He points to the following finds in Bulgaria: Nikolovo 19 coins; Pirgovo 22 coins; Ruse 21 coins; Hursovo 20 coins; and Slivo Pole 19 coins (Preda 1973: 215—247).

This information was available to the author while working on his book. Today we have new information about the discoveries in Bulgaria. During the construction of Central Market (Central Khali) in Ruse, a hoard was found containing coins of type V - B. The find was examined and published by D. Dragoev (Dragoev 2013a: 99—103). Thus, to the 5 hoards announced by Preda, the one from Khalite is also added. It is combined with other imitation types. D. Dragoev accepts the hypothesis mentioned by other authors (Draganov 2008: 36—41) that it seems possible this coin type was minted in the Ruse region. The discovery of coin matrices for these coins comes as an argument.

The hoard presented here appears to be the seventh one in the row. The authors cannot comment on the information about a similar find from the region of Vratsa region (Manov 2018: 245—260). The reason is the possible option that the published 2 coins were part of the same numerous hoard we discuss now.

At present, several of the known hoards from Bulgaria containing the coin type considered here remain unpublished. The publication of the ones from Pirgovo-1938 (ICHB I 2017) (Gerasimov 1939: 455) and Ruse-1969 (Gerasimov 1979: 138; ICHB I 2017) is forthcoming. Both contain coins of the type in question but are combined with other imitation coins. The collection of NIAM BAS houses 23 coins from the hoard of Pirgovo-1938. Twenty pieces of them are imitations of type

МАИАСП № 12. 2020

C2 (d) according to Allen or of type V-B after Preda, weighing almost identical to those published here. The remaining 3 coins are imitations of Philip III with a higher weight of 15—16 g. From the hoard from Ruse-1969, the number of the surviving coins is only 12. Ten of them are tetradrachms with reduced weight and 2 drachms. Two coins alone belong to type C2 (d) after Allen or to type V-B according to Preda.

The places where the hoards were discovered are also confirmed by the results of archaeological excavations in the area of the city of Ruse (Dragoev 2013b: 94—98).

Among the new hoards with imitation coins repeating the types of the Macedonian kings, the one considered here stands out clearly as a volume. It is also the largest one ever found south of the Danube River. At the time of discovery it contained between 700 and 800 coins, and was homogeneous in composition. The hoard was scattered in the period after 2007. Information about it has been generally collected from secondary data and traces of the scattered coins. The object of the work here presented is only the share of 179 coins from the collection of the Regional Museum of History in Haskovo.

The exact location of the discovery is not yet known. There is unofficial information only that it was found east of the Yantra River. All the rest of the coin hoards of this type have been found in the area of Ruse. It seems possible that the hoard considered here was discovered there as well.

An interesting analysis shows the comparison of the volumes of this coin type on the left and right banks of the Lower Danube. The total number of V-B type coins discovered along the left bank of the Danube and analyzed by C. Preda is 906. It represents the sum of 40 coin hoards. There are 100 coins within the announced 5 hoards from the right bank of the river. D. Dragoev released 12 more coins from Ruse (Dragoev 2013a: 99—104). M. Manov released 2 coins (Manov 2018: pl. LIV: 1—2 ).

Depending on the actual number of pieces within the hoard we are considering, the total number of coins of this imitation type along the right bank could be 814 or 914. We mention this only for information and on the occasion of the possibility that the coins were struck in various places, including in the area on the right bank of the Danube. All these speculations to date are indicative. Until the hoards from Bulgaria are published, no comparison can be made. Judging only by the brief messages about coin finds, discrepancies often occur. An example comes the hoard from the village of Harsovo, Razgrad region. It was declared by T. Gerasimov as Celtic imitations of the type of Philip III Arrhidaeus . Furthermore, Gerasimov did not report the number of coins. In his work, C. Preda points out a specific number for the same treasure — 20 coins. Often there are no exact numbers of coins within the hoards at their discovery — they indicate only those that have been seen or entered the museums. No one at this stage in Bulgaria has made an exact distinction between the types of imitations of Philip II. In order to continue the work on the imitations, repeating the coins of the Macedonian kings, the detailed publication of the coin finds from Bulgaria is necessary.

МАИАСП № 12. 2020

From the new hoard, stable data on weight variations can be derived.

10,		Quantity / Graphics	Percent
6,25	(1)	•	0.55
6,40	(1)	•	0.55
6,45	(2)	••	1.10
6,65	(1)	•	0.55
6,70	(1)	•	0.55
6,75	(1)	•	0.55
6,80	(7)	•••••••	3.85
6,85	(3)	•••	1.65
6,90	(5)	•••••	2.75
6,95	(3)	•••	1.65
7,00	(8)	••••••••	4.40
7,05	(12)	••••••••••••	6.60
7,10	(5)	•••••	2.75
7,15	(14)	••••••••••••••	6.60
7,20	(10)	••••••••••	5.50
7,25	(13)	•••••••••••••	7.15
7,30	(16)	••••••••••••••••	8.80
7,35	(11)	•••••••••••	6.05
7.40	(12)	•••••••••••	6.60
7.45	(10)	••••••••••	5.50
7.50	(15)	•••••••••••••••	8.25
7.55	(3)	•••	1.65
7.60	(3)	•••	1.65
7.65	(6)	••••••	3.30
7.70	(7)	•••••••	3.85
7.75	(2)	••	1.10
7.80	(2)	••	1.10
7.95	(2)	••	0.55
8.00	(2)	••	1.10
8.10	(1)	•	0.55
8.20	(1)	•	0.55
9.00	(1)	•	0.55

The weights of the coins conditionally divided into groups show the highest concentration between 7.00 and 7.50 g:

Up to 6.95 g — 13.75%;

Up to 7.00 до 7.95 g — 83.05%;

Over 8.00 g — 2.75%.

A comparison with the weights of the coins from only a few finds shows that there is a large coincidence for the concentration between 7 and 8 g:

Up to 6.95 g — 12.50%;

Between 7.00 to 7.95 g — 84.00%

Over 8.00 g — 3.22%.

МАИАСП № 12. 2020

The authors think that the overall picture will move in similar parameters. These results are for guidance only and are comparable to other hoards.

Published data from Romanian treasures show the following summary results for the weights of coins of the same type (Preda 1973: 216—227):

Up to 6.95 g — 16.20%

Between 7.00 to 7.95 g — 78.83%

Over 8.00 g — 4.66%

The statistical base of the findings from Romania is several times larger than ours and it probably gives more accurate data. But even with small differences in percentages, there are many similarities.

Although with fewer examples, the excerpt from M. Kostial's catalog also gives us orientation (Kostial 2003: 112—117):

Up to 6.95 g — 21.00%

Between 7.00 to 7.95 g — 68.00%

Over 8.00 g — 11.00%

Here the differences in percentages are greater. We take them for example only. That is because the coins are not from coin hoards. They are randomly selected from a collection.

Still another important novelty is tracing the composition of the metal. The deposits of copper compounds on the surface of the coins are obvious. In the case of coins struck from high-grade silver, similar ones do not appear. The group analysis taken from one coin per group shows serious differences in the percentages of silver. These differences are not only between individual coins, but also between the samples from the obverse and the reverse of the same coin. The analysis is nondestructive and was performed with an X-ray fluorescence apparatus1. The penetration depth is between 10 and 20 microns. For this reason, it is not possible to say what is the composition inside the coins.

Results by groups for the obverse and reverse of the coins:

Group	AR Obv. %	AR Rev. %
Group I	89.16	80.55
Group II	86.17	85.49
Group III	85.83	85.49
Group IV	80.15	75.32
Group V	83.38	68.04
Group VI	94.06	78.38
Group VII	82.89	79.60
Group VIII	87.70	79.34
Group IX	74.90	84.75
Group X	82.33	77.37
Group XI	92.03	81.49
Group XII	57.59	56.51
Group XIII	62.90	81.26
Group XIV	—	—
Group XV	74.10	81.50
Group XVI	76.34	77.96
Group XVII	85.71	83.93

¹ Olympus The Xpert, XP-6500-CC.

МАИАСП № 12. 2020

In total, the following result is obtained for the coins in the treasure:

Highest amount of silver — 94.06%

Lowest amount of silver — 65.51%

The biggest difference in silver content between the obverse and the reverse in one coin we see in Group VI, 1 — 15.68%.

The conclusions are that there is definitely no strict standard for the silver content in the coin blanks. In addition, insufficient good mixing of the alloy components during melting can be observed.

Obviously the picture of the distribution of this coin type to the south-southeast in the area between the Danube River and the Balkan Mountains needs to be supplemented. A special phenomenon in the monetary circulation is emerging. The direction of penetration and spread of coins of the types of Philip II, Alexander III and Philip III Arrhidaeus was reversing. In the late 4th and the first half of the 3rd c. BCE the silver coins of the Macedonian kings were running northnorthwest. About the late 3rd and in the first half of the 2nd c. BCE the direction of spread of the imitations changed. It returned to its source.

At this stage, the authors of the work here presented do not yet have a complete picture of the penetration to the south-southeast. It is still not entirely certain whether the imitation coins proceeded through the passes of Haemus. It is also not clear whether this imitation type was minted south of the Danube River. There are claims concerning this possibility, but they have not yet been proven (Draganov 2008).

Nevertheless, there is something that is indisputable. Money cannot be an arbitrary act. Behind every currency is solid power. It is necessary to study the area of influence and the time of use of imitations of this coin type and only then to make a thorough historical analysis.

The time of distribution and use of these coins south of the Danube River ceased in the 2nd c. BCE. They mixed with similar imitation types. In Ruse-1969 (ICHB I 2017) and Ruse-1939 (Dragoev 2013b: 94) the combination is with tetradrachms of a similar type with reduced weight, as well as with drachms — imitations of Philip III Arrhidaeus. In the hoard from Pirgovo-1938 they are combined with tetradrachms — imitations of Philip III weighing from 14.85 to 16.57 g2. The archaeological research of a pit complex in Ruse reveals the same results — a combination with drachms imitating Alexander III and Philip III (Dragoev 2013b).

It is necessary to emphasize still another important observation that concerns the silver imitation coins in today's Bulgarian territories. This is the lack of mixing this imitation type with Thasos imitations. We can affirm that there is a noticeable hiatus between them. The true imitations of the tetradrachms of the Island of Thasos appeared only after the first 2 or 3 decades of the 1st c. BCE. The events occurring after 168 BCE dramatically changed the picture of the coin circulation on the Balkans. The coin type considered here, as well as all similar ones, disappeared from the coin circulation south of the Danube River as early as the mid 2nd c. BCE (Prokopov 2016).

МАИАСП № 12. 2020