Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction X 27 September 2015
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Thrace, Apollonia Pontika AR Tetradrachm. Circa 400-350 BC. Laureate head of Apollo to right / Anchor, crayfish to right, A and ΠOΛYANAΞ (magistral name) to right. Traité -; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG BM -; SNG Stancomb -; SNG Berry -; Helios 8, lot 3 (this coin); Winterthur I. 1159 (same obverse die); Bunbury collection part II, Sotheby, Wilkison & Hodge 7 October 1896, lot 119. 16.97g, 23mm, 7h.
Extremely Fine. An extremely rare variety, apparently only the second known.
Ex Helios 8, 13 October 2012, lot 3.
This coin is struck from an obverse die which is arguably the most sensitively and delicately engraved of the whole series. The artist has paid particularly close attention to the hair and laurel wreath of Apollo, and has created a composition of rare beauty among what are all too often functional portraits of parochial style.
Founded in the 7th century BC by colonists from Miletos, from its earliest days Apollonia possessed an important extra-urban sanctuary of Apollo from which the city took its name. The temple contained a famous colossal statue of Apollo by Calamis which stood forty five feet high, though this would in 72 BC be captured and transported to Rome by the general Lucullus, and placed in the Capitol.
The earliest coinage of Apollonia seems to have been cast bronze arrow-head 'proto-money', which soon gave way to the familiar Apollo and anchor with crayfish types. The presence of the crayfish (astakos) on its coinage may be a punning reference to the name of the region, Astike.
Extremely Fine. An extremely rare variety, apparently only the second known.
Ex Helios 8, 13 October 2012, lot 3.
This coin is struck from an obverse die which is arguably the most sensitively and delicately engraved of the whole series. The artist has paid particularly close attention to the hair and laurel wreath of Apollo, and has created a composition of rare beauty among what are all too often functional portraits of parochial style.
Founded in the 7th century BC by colonists from Miletos, from its earliest days Apollonia possessed an important extra-urban sanctuary of Apollo from which the city took its name. The temple contained a famous colossal statue of Apollo by Calamis which stood forty five feet high, though this would in 72 BC be captured and transported to Rome by the general Lucullus, and placed in the Capitol.
The earliest coinage of Apollonia seems to have been cast bronze arrow-head 'proto-money', which soon gave way to the familiar Apollo and anchor with crayfish types. The presence of the crayfish (astakos) on its coinage may be a punning reference to the name of the region, Astike.