The Gallic chieftain Kavaros was the sole Gallic king of Thrace to strike coinage. Kabyle was his captial, and the presence of its badge, Artemis Phosphoros, on his coins confirms that they were minted there. Price also noted that the obverse die used for all Kavaros' coins was used to strike tetradrachms in the name of Alexander at Kabyle (Price 882). Draganov notes 12 examples of these coins in the name of Kavaros, which were struck from one obverse and nine reverse dies. In addition to the present coin, CNG has offered one other example not noted by Draganov, Triton VII (13 January 2004), lot 181. Another appeared as lot 110 in Lanz 112 (25 December 2002). Kavaros was killed during a Thracian revolt against the Gauls circa 218 BC.
KINGS of THRACE. Kavaros. Circa 230/225-218 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.01 g, 12h). Kabyle mint. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΚΑΥΑΡΟΥ, Zeus Aëtophotos seated left; Artemis Phosphoros holding two torches in left field. Draganov 867-873 (dies 5/14); Gerassimov, “Rare Coins of Thrace,” NC 1957, pl. I, 4 = Yourokova 107 (same dies): cf. Price 882 (same obverse die).
