57. Dacian Tetradrachm coin, Janiform type, III-I century BCE, silver, very rare collection piece

The Dacian janiform tetradrachms represent some of the most valuable and interesting monetary discoveries from the ancient period of Dacia, both historically and culturally. These coins, issued or imitated by the Dacians in the III-I centuries BC, are called "janiform" due to the representation of two human faces oriented in opposite directions – an image inspired by the iconography of the Roman god Janus, symbol of beginnings and duality. The janiform tetradrachms prove the commercial, cultural and political connections of Dacia with the Greek and Roman world. They are inspired by Hellenistic coins, especially Macedonian or Thasian ones, but adapted in a specific way, which shows that the Dacians not only took over foreign models, but reinterpreted them. This phenomenon demonstrates Dacia's openness to external influences, but also the artistic and ideological autonomy of the local elite. The issuance of own currency - even if in the form of imitations - presupposes an advanced degree of economic and political organization. The janiform tetradrachms circulated in internal and external exchanges, and their presence in archaeological treasures discovered in different areas of Dacia suggests an active economy, supported by metallurgical production and the control of local resources, especially silver. The discovery of janiform tetradrachms in different archaeological sites in Romania provides researchers with valuable data on population distribution, trade routes and power centers of pre-Roman Dacia. At the same time, they contribute to the delineation of a cultural identity of the Dacians, highlighting the high level of civilization in this part of Europe before the Roman conquest.

Dimensions

custom d=22 mm

Description

silver

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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