Quadriga walking left, Rx: Forepart of man-headed bull left, ΓEΛAΣ above.
Purchased from Spink in the 1960’s; with their ticket. Good style, well centered
reverse. Fine /AboutVF ..........................................................................................800
18.
BRUTTIUM, RHEGIUM. UNDER THE TYRANTANAXILAS
; 480-462 BC,
Litra, 0.69g. Grose-1859, BM-7, HN Italy-2475. Robinson 8. Obv: Hare running r.
Rx: REG retrograde in circle of dots.Normal isolatedpittingwhich is foundon small
coins of Sicily.GoodVF...........................................................................................275
19.
SICILY, SYRACUSE
; 485-478BC, Tetradrachm, 17.20g. Boehringer-266, onlyone
recorded.Obv:Slowquadriga r. crownedbyVictory,Rx:Arethusa surroundedby four
dolphins. Extremely pleasant archaic head ofArethusa. Rather well centered on both
obverse and reverse. TonedGoodVF.....................................................................1975
20.
SICILY, SYRACUSE
; 485-478 BC, Tetradrachm, 17.52g. Boehringer-355, 2
recorded.Obv: Slowquadriga r. crownedbyVictory,Rx:Arethusahead r. surrounded
by four dolphins.Very sweet headofArethusa. Toned.VF....................................1750
SignedbyPhrygillos
21.
SICILY, SYRACUSE
; c. 408-406 BC, Tetradrachm, 17.00g, obverse signed by
Phrygillos, reverse unsignedwork of Euarchidas. Tudeer-49. Obv: Head ofArethusa
left with star on sphendone and ampyx inscribed ΦPY; four dolphins around. Rx:
Galloping quadriga driven left by Persephone carrying flaming torch; she is about
to be crowned by Nike flying right; in exergue, ear of barley. During the Athenian
expedition to Sicily when Syracuse was in great danger (415-413 BC), the local
authorities decided to renovate the traditional obverse type of Syracusan coinage, the
chariot. The new type showed the chariot advancing left instead of right, in swift
motion, and in a perspective view. Though the earliest dies showing the new type
were somewhat crude, marvelous images of a chariot driven at full speedwere soon
accomplished.At the same time, theheadofArethusaon theother sideof thecoinwas
rendered in amore sophisticated and delicate style. It comes as no surprise that soon
after thenew typeswere introduced, thedieengravers started to sign theirworks– just
as gem cutters, vase painters and sculptors had already been doing for quite a long
time. Itmaywell be that competition amongdie engraverswas carefully cultivated in
connectionwithSyracuse’s search for afiner versionof its chariot type. Our coinwas
struck at a high point of the series when the engravers had learned how to deal with
problems of perspective distortion, for example that of the elliptical chariot wheels.
Phrygillos, the engraverwho signed thehead side, seems tohavebeen set inhisways,
for unlike his colleagues Euainetos andEuth… he refused for some time to adopt the
Ionic alphabet.With this die, hefinally agreed touse the vowel omega, but inwriting
ΣYPAKΩΣION insteadofΣYPAKOΣIΩNheplaced it in thewrongposition.Clerical
errors on classical Greek coins, especially those of a metropolis like Syracuse, are
quite unusual. It is very rare to encounter signed coins of Syracuse in wonderful
condition. Usually, there are centering problems. This exquisite coin is struck on a
broad flan that includes all four dolphins and an absolutely complete reverse, even
including the wings of the Nike. This is one of the finest examples of Tudeer 49 in
existence.Toned. EF /About EF...........................................................................21500
22.
SICILY, SYRACUSE
; 214-212 BC, 12 Litrae, 10.26g. SNGMunich-1433, Burnett
Enna-Pl. 9, D13. Obv: Head of helmetedAthena l. Rx:Artemis standing l. shooting
arrow, with dog running l. at her feet. Well struck, beautifully centered. Near Mint
State / EF...............................................................................................................2250
SpecialDidrachm
23.
CARTHAGE
; Siculo-Punic, 300-260 BC. Didrachm, 7.95g. Lockett-1059/60. Obv:
HeadofPersephone-Tanit l.wearingwreathofwheat ears.Rx:Horse standing r., head
l., with date palm behind its rump and star in r. field. This didrachm is extremely rare
andmissing frommostmajor collections.The styleof theTanit is definitelyPunicbut
has enough sweetness in the face that it could have been done by a Sicilian engraver.
Extremely rare. Toned. EF....................................................................................2750
GreatRarity
24.
CARTHAGONOVA
; 237-227BC, Double Sheqel, 13.41g. E.S.G. Robinson, Punic
Coins of Spain, in R.A.G. Carson and C.H.V. Sutherland (eds.), Essays in Roman
Coinage presented toHaroldMattingly (Oxford 1956), pp. 37 f., 49, no. 4(b), pl. II;
G.K. Jenkins andR.B. Lewis,CarthaginianGold andElectrumCoins (London1953),
p. 45 [on findspots]; L. Villaronga, Las monedas hispano-cartaginesas (Barcelona
1973), no. 12. Obv. Diademedmale head l. with curly hair. Rx. Prow of war galley
with triple ram r.; on the deck, a pile of shields. Beneath, hippocamp r.Dottedborder.
ExNAC72, 2013, lot 805.This intriguing issueof theCarthaginian ‘provincial’series
with diademed head and a prow of galleywas, to judge from findspots, produced by
a mint in southwestern Spain, probably at Carthago Nova (Cartagena) rather than
Gades (Cadiz). The dating is somewhat controversial, although thewide bracket 237-
209BC is generally accepted. The head on the obverse is clearly a portrait; since the
man shown is inhis prime rather than aged, itmight depictHasdrubal, the son-in-law
of Hamilcar Barcas, rather thanHamilcar himself.After Carthage’s defeat in the first
PunicWar (264-241BC) and her suppression of the Libyan rebellion (241-239BC),
Hamilcar turned to Spain, the main supplier of silver in the westernMediterranean,
and started conquering vast territories in southwestern Spain. In 230 a native revolt
brokeout,Hamilcarwas killed in a skirmish, andhis son-in-lawHasdrubal succeeded
him. Hasdrubal was able to restore Carthaginian supremacy in southwestern Spain,
and founded Carthago Nova, whose harbor was ideal for sheltering a fleet, as the
seat of Carthaginian government in Spain. CarthagoNova is therefore likely to have
been the mint of this issue that combines the prow of a war galley with the portrait
of a young ruler.Asmentioned, dating the issue is still amatter of debate.Adate not
long after the foundation of CarthagoNova, for financing building activities and the
fleet, seems more likely than a date during the Second PunicWar (218-202 BC). At
any rate, the latest possibledatewill havebeen209BC,whenScipioAfricanusMaior
conqueredCarthagoNova
Specimens recorded:
Double shekel
-Madrid (Robinson, op. cit., pl. II, 4 b) (14.80g)
-NAC 66, 2012, lot 1, exA. Huntington (13.68g)
- this specimen
Shekel
- Leu 20, 1978, lot 55 (7.38g, 12h)
-Copenhagen (SNGCop. Suppl. 1332) (7.29g, 12h).
Two ancient holes, otherwise excessively rare. EF...............................................8000
25.
PANGAEAN DISTRICT, NEAPOLIS
; 500-480 BC, Fourrée Stater, 6.10g. SNG
ANS-406-419, AMNG-III/2, 6. Obv: Facing gorgoneion, Rx: Incuse. This coin is
plated, hence its lowweight of 6.10g rather than the normal 9g or so. Macedonian
fourrées are very rare, especially from the archaic period.VF...............................450
ExquisiteApollo
26.
OLYNTHUS, CHALCIDIAN LEAGUE
; 373-370 BC, Tetradrachm, 14.62g.
Robinson and Clement, pl. VII, 134-135 (same obverse die). Gaebler, AMNG III 2,
p. 85, no. 8, pl. XVII, 12; BMC 10; Pozzi 753; GulbenkianColl. 422; SNGANS 497
(all from the same obverse die). For the revised dating of theAriston group, see P.A.
Clement, The Chalcidic coinage: epilogue, inΑρχαία Μακεδονία, 1st International
Symposium (Thessaloniki 1970), pp. 252-255. Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right.
Rx:ΧΑΛ-ΚΙΔ-ΕΩΝCitharawith seven strings. The obverse die is usually combined
with reversedies signedby themagistrateAriston (ΕΠΙΑΡΙΣΤΩΝΟΣ).Our specimen,
however, has an unsigned reverse die. The same goes for SNGDelepierre 913which
has a similar but different reverse die. Originally thought to be an instrument of
Athenian power politics, the Chalcidian League soon achieved independence from
bothAthens and their neighbors oo the Chalcidic peninsula, the Thraco-Macedonian
tribes. Olynthos, a city situated on the southwestern side of the peninsula, was the
supreme power within the league and, no doubt, the mint of the league’s coinage.
When forcing other cities of the Chalcidice such as Akanthos to join the league,
Olynthos succumbed to the then Greek hegemon Sparta in the 1st Olynthian War
(382-379BC): Sparta insisted on the autonomy of all Greek city-states as negotiated
in the peace of Antalkidas (386 BC). Seeking support, Olynthos temporarily joined
the 2nd Delian league (378 BC), but soon revived the Chalcidian League that was
to become an opponent of both Athens and the kingdom of Macedon. Repeatedly
Olynthosand theChalcidianLeaguechanged sidesby switching fromanalliancewith
Athens to an alliancewithPhilip II ofMacedon. In the end, the leaguewas unable to
maintain its independence. In348BC, Philip conquered anddestroyedOlynthos, thus
putting an end to the Chalcidian League and its coinage. The league’s coinage does
not mirror the ups and downs of its history. Instead there is a constant air of serenity.
Both sides of the coins keep to the same topic: Apollo in his role of a player of the
cithara (ApolloCitharoedus). There is nomyth or special cult that would tell uswhy
the Chalcidians (or Olynthians) selectedApollo as their representative, but with this
choice theymade a clear statement that they took pride in being an outpost of Greek
culture. In fact, the musical instrument preferred byApollo was not the lyre that he
received fromHermes but the cithara. The citharawasmuchwider and heavier than
a lyre (it was often supported by a strap over the player’s shoulder, while a lyrewas
light enough to be hold by hand), and it was also an instrument that required much
more skill and training from the player. Remarkable for its preservation, our coin
is an extremely rare variety within the league’s coin series. The coin is not signed
by a magistrate, but the same obverse die was used with reverse dies signed by the
magistrateAriston. Why a few reverse dies were not signed remains a mystery; the
context isfirmenough todate this coin to the late370swhenOlynthoshadalready left
the2ndDelianLeagueandwasengaged in reconstituting theChalcidianLeague. This
coin bears one of the most beautiful numismatic representations of Apollo. Rather
than theyouthful apple-cheekedApollos earlier in the issue, thismature sedateApollo
has a very handsome andmature bearing. It is one of the very last dies of this issue.
Struck inhigh relief, it hasgrey toningwithbeautiful orangehighlights. FDC....16500
27.
CHALCIDIANDISTRICT,MENDE
; 460-423 BC, Tetradrachm, 16.67g. Noe-73,
SNGANS-340 (same dies). Obv:Dionysos, holdingkantharos, reclining left onback
of an ass standing right; to right, bird standing right.Dottedborder. Rx:MENΔΑΙOΝ
arrayed around vine bearing five bunches of grapes; all within incuse square. Ex
RichardP.MillerCollection.ExGeminiXI, 12 January2014, lot 23.Toned.VF...3950
28.
MACEDONIA, PHILIP II
; 359-336 BC. Amphipolis mint, c. 355-349/8 BC,
Tetradrachm, 14.40g. Le Rider-91 (D41/R75), SNGANS-468. Obv: Laureate head
of Zeus r., dotted border. Rx: ΦΙΛΙΠ-ΠΟΥRiderwearing petasos, raising right hand,
holding reins in left, on horseback left; below, trident left. ExCNGCoins. Ex Spink
NumismaticCircularCXII.2 (April 2004), no. GK1198. Toned.VF...................2400
29.
MACEDONIA,ALEXANDER IIITHEGREAT, 336-323BC
;Amphipolis, c. 320-
317 BC, Tetradrachm, 17.06g. Price-132. Obv: Head of young Herakles r. wearing
lionskin. Rx: Zeus seated l. holding eagle and scepter, wreath in l. field, monogram
below throne. Toned. EF /VF.................................................................................600
30.
MACEDONIA,ALEXANDER III THEGREAT, 336-323BC
; Uncertain Eastern
mint, c. 305-300 BC, Tetradrachm, 16.24g. Price-4001b. Obv: Head of young
Herakles r. wearing lionskin. Rx: Zeus seated l. holding eagle and scepter, torch in l.
field. Head of Zeus flatly struck, toned. EF.............................................................850
31.
MACEDONIA,ALEXANDER IIITHEGREAT, 336-323BC
; Babylon, Lifetime,
c. 325-323 BC, Tetradrachm, 17.14g. Price-3642b. Obv: Head of young Herakles r.
wearing lionskin, grapes in l. field; monogram under throne, M in exergue. Toned.
GoodVF..................................................................................................................475
32.
MACEDONIA, ALEXANDER III THEGREAT, 336-323 BC
; Babylon, c. 317-
311 BC, Tetradrachm, 16.78g. Price-3742. Obv: Head of young Herakles r. wearing
lionskin. Rx: Zeus seated l. holding eagle and scepter,monogram inwreath in l. field,
M below throne. Toned.VF....................................................................................400
33.
MACEDONIA, ALEXANDER III THEGREAT
; 336-323 BC. Babylon, c. 317-
311 BC, Tetradrachm, 17.18g. Price-3704. Obv: Head of young Herakles right in
lionskin headdress. Rx: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥZeus seated left holding eagle
on outstretched hand; MTPmonogramwithin wreath in l. field and letter H below
throne.Thiscoinbearsapowerful portrait ofAlexander struck inextremelyhigh relief
