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November Auction 2015 13 November 2015
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PHOKIS, SILVER STATER OF DELPHI, ca. 336-335 BC, 12.252g, 5h. Kinns 6 (same dies). BCD 387. Very rare. Attractively toned. Undoubtedly one of the most prestigious, important and fascinating Greek coins. Extremely fine. Former Michel Eddé collection
In the Archaic period, an amphictyony (league of neighbors) was an ancient religious association of Greek tribes. The least obscure and longest-lasting amphictyony was the Delphic or Great Amphictyonic League, organized to support the greater temples of Apollo and Demeter. The League council had religious authority and the power to pronounce punishments against offenders. Punishments could range from fines to expulsion and to conduct Sacred Wars. The founding legend claimed that it had been founded in the most distant past by an eponymous founder Amphictyon, brother of Hellen, the common ancestor of all Hellenes.
In 338, the Amphictyonic League took the decision to melt down the various coins accumulated in the temple treasury and to mint a new, uniform coinage that would be used to finance the reconstruction of the temple, destroyed by an earthquake in 373. According to Kenneth Jenkins, "the head on these coins, that of Demeter wearing a veil and a crown of corn, is a lovely and sensitive creation; while the reverse shows Apollo seated on the omphalos, with a great lyre in the background". The decree of Theodosius to close all pagan sanctuaries resulted in Delphi's gradual decline, until its final abandonment in the 7th century.
In the Archaic period, an amphictyony (league of neighbors) was an ancient religious association of Greek tribes. The least obscure and longest-lasting amphictyony was the Delphic or Great Amphictyonic League, organized to support the greater temples of Apollo and Demeter. The League council had religious authority and the power to pronounce punishments against offenders. Punishments could range from fines to expulsion and to conduct Sacred Wars. The founding legend claimed that it had been founded in the most distant past by an eponymous founder Amphictyon, brother of Hellen, the common ancestor of all Hellenes.
In 338, the Amphictyonic League took the decision to melt down the various coins accumulated in the temple treasury and to mint a new, uniform coinage that would be used to finance the reconstruction of the temple, destroyed by an earthquake in 373. According to Kenneth Jenkins, "the head on these coins, that of Demeter wearing a veil and a crown of corn, is a lovely and sensitive creation; while the reverse shows Apollo seated on the omphalos, with a great lyre in the background". The decree of Theodosius to close all pagan sanctuaries resulted in Delphi's gradual decline, until its final abandonment in the 7th century.