Third Known Coin of King Diplaos

CNG 96, Lot: 85. Estimate $5000. Sold for $6000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of PAEONIA. Diplaos. Circa 315 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 12.25 g, 7h). Head of Apollo left, with short hair, wearing laurel wreath / Warrior on horse rearing right, thrusting spear held in his right hand at enemy below who defends with shield on his left arm; [ΔIΠΛAIOY to right]. Peykov E3000 (rarity 10/10) = J. Yourukova, Аитични монети в България [Ancient Coins of Bulgaria] (Sofia, 1972), 93 (same obv. die); Triton XVII, lot 189 (same obv. die); otherwise unpublished. Good VF, minor die wear. Extremely rare, the third known.

The Paeonian ruler Diplaos is known only from his extremely rare coins. Based on the typology of his coins, he is thought to have ruled either concurrently with Patraos, or for a very brief period between Patraos and Audoleon.