Greek Silver & Bronze Coins

Lot 4199    SESSION 16 (9.30AM FRIDAY 28 JULY)    Greek Silver & Bronze Coins

Estimate $2,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

MACEDON, Olynthos mint, Chalkidian League, silver tetradrachm, (420-392 B.C.), but issued c.410-401 B.C., (14.75 g), obv. laureate head of Apollo to left of finest style, rev. Cithara with seven strings with flat bottom sound chest, on right an arm strap decorated with two rows of dots, above and on sides **CAL KID [EW]N*, (cf.S.1424, Robinson & Clement Group H, 22 [A18/P17-19 similar]), SNG ANS -, Naville I, lot 751 [similar dies], Naville X [lot 400 similar dies], BMC 3 p.67). Good very fine and very rare.

Ex Noble Numismatics, Sale 113, lot 4829. Previously Ponterio & Associates Inc, San Diego, Sale 136, November 1, 2005, (lot 1697).

Originally founded during the Peloponnesian Wars in 432/1 BC the Chalkidian league was a defensive coalition of cities. It adopted a progressive constitution on the initiative of its leading state, Olynthos. The league was predominantly a federal state with sovereign powers and a federal coinage and adopted Apollo and the lyre as its symbols. The League became very powerful in the 4th century and won control of certain cities from the weaker Macedonian kings such as Amyntas III. The League dissolved when its principal city fell to Philip II in 348 B.C. The power of the league is reflected in its coinage, which was the most important in the Macedonian area during the first half of the 4th century BC. The modern excavations of the site are particularly important both for the history of a Greek city planning and the coin finds that are vital for the chronology of many issues of the 4th century B.C.

Robinson and Clement note for this Group H, two obverse dies and five reverse dies for 10 specimens known. This example comes with a new reverse die. The obverse has a fine head of Apollo and an excellent example of late 5th century B.C. die cutting.