Greece, Illyria-Apolonia (229-100 BC), drachma

Obverse: Cow standing left, looking back, feeding a body standing right with outstretched hoof, in pearl border. Above the legend NIKANΔPOΣ, in segment a monogram.

Reverse: double ornament in square, legend: AΠOΛ ANΔPIΣKOY.

Silver coins of Apollonia, like those of Dyrrachion, dated to the late 3rd or 2nd century BC, were minted according to a different weight system than earlier stateri from this center. Some studies refer to these coins as drachms (their weight would then place the coins of this former Illyrian colony of Corinth between the Euboean-Athenian and Rhodian systems), while some scholars, citing a reference in the famous numismatic passus of Pliny the Elder's "Natural History" (XXXIII 46), identify these coins with the "money of Illyria" ("nummus ex Illyrico") mentioned there, which was to take its name from the Victoria depicted on it. While the Victoria on the coins of Apollonia and Dyrrachion is a rare motif, taxonomy indicates that Pliny may have been right and the name "victoratus" passed from earlier Roman victories to this peculiar provincial silver coin....

Apollonia itself was founded in 588 BC by colonists from Corfu and Corinth, from the end of the 3rd century BC, however, along with the larger area of Illyria, it was already in the sphere of Roman influence (from 229, from 148 as a city of the Roman province of Macedonia).

Greece and post-Hellenistic - Illyria - Apollonia - administrators Simias and Autoboulos, drachma, 229-100 B.C., Av: Cow feeding a calf, top ΣΙΜΙΑΣ, bottom ΛΕ, Rw: Ornament in square form, around ΑΠΟΛ ΑΥΤΟ ΒΟΥ ΛΟΥ