Novensia: Studia i Materiały (21.2010)

Renata Ciołek

“GREAT HOARD” OF 4656 COINS
OF KING BALLAIOS FROM RISAN1
Abstract: The article is a preliminary analysis of the contents of the “great hoard” from Risan,
discovered in 2010 by the Center for Research on the Antiąuity of Southeastem Europę of the
University of Warsaw. Approximate statistics for particular types and subtypes of coins were de-
termined based on an examination of the hoard prior to cleaning and conservation of the coins.
Preliminary conclusions concerning the hoard have also been presented.
Key words: Rhizon/Risinium, Ballaios, hoard of coins
Excavations carried out in Risan in 2010 by the Center for Research on the Antiąuity of
Southeastem Europę of the University of Warsaw brought to light a hoard containing 4656
coins issued by Ballaios,2 an Illyrian king known from no other source except his monetary
issues. Some of these issues bear his name alone, while others add the title of basileus
(BAEIAECZ). His actual ruler status is not elear, however, given what is known of the II-
lyrian State, the naturę of state-building processes in the Balkans in the 4th through 2nd
century BC and the intertribal relations in the region. The numismatic evidence has given
several indications, possibly also with regard to the years of his reign, and the importance
of this has hardly been belittled by the fact that many of the coins found previously had
no exact provenance. Apparent concentrations of the king’s coins in certain regions could
suggest places of production which could subseąuently be tied in with territories under
his rule, while the distribution of the coins can help to map the extent of his kingdom.
Generally speaking, Ballaios seems to have ruled over the eastern shore of the Adriatic,
from Kotor Bay in the south to Pharos island in the north.3
One can distinguish a number of basie types and several variants among the known
coins of this king. On the whole, Arthur Evans’ view that particular types of coins were
apparently limited to specific regions should be upheld. The type with standing Artemis

1 This important find is signaled here following
a preliminary appraisal of the coins before cleaning
and conservation. I am deeply indebted to the Staff
of the Center for Research on the Antiąuity of
Southeastem Europę, University of Warsaw, for
making this research possible, and to Prof. Piotr
Dyczek in particular for his generous assistance.

2 On the circumstances of the discovery, see Kowal
2010, pp. 46 48.
3 Evans 1880; Rendić-Mioćević 1964, p. 86;
Marović 1988, p. 97; Gorini 1989, pp. 28-29;
Gorini 1990, pp. 319-321; Ujes, Kovaćević 1992,
pp. 9-10; Ujes 1993, pp. 7-8.