Ancient Gold

Lot 1710       Ancient Gold

Estimate $3,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $3,500

SICILY, Syracuse, Kingdom of, Agathocles, (317-289 B.C.), gold two thirds stater or octobol, (5.652 grams), Attic standard, equivalent to 80 silver litrai or two silver decadrachms, obv. head of Athena to right, wearing necklace, pendant earring and crested Corinthian helmet decorated with griffin running right on the bowl, her hair is long and knotted on the neck with the ends hanging loose with a few strands escaping above the ear, rev. winged thunderbolt, above **AGAQOKLEOS, below **BASILEOS* and monogram TP, (S.970; BMC 416, Robinson 'Calouste Gulbenkian Collection', Part I, No.341). Trace of original mint bloom, very fine or better and rare.

The issue was probably a commemorative issue on the occasion of Agathokles' daughter Lanassa's marriage to Pyrrhos of Epeiros in 297 B.C., the Epeirote character of this coin and the smaller denominations have led to this as being the principal suggestion. Alternatively it has also been suggested that the series could have been issued to honour Agathokles assumption of the royal title in 304, reflected in the choice of Athena for the obverse type similar to that of Alexander the Great's gold coinage. The issue of these gold octobols was for only a brief time and indicated that the issue was certainly commemorative in nature.