Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XI 7 April 2016
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Attica, Athens AR New Style Tetradrachm. Athens or mint moving with Sulla, circa 86-84 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet, bowl decorated with griffin / Owl standing facing on amphora on which A, monogram to either side; all within wreath. Dewing 1653; Kraay-Hirmer pl. 120, 366; Thompson, New Style 1304a (same obverse die). 16.55g, 28mm, 12h.
Extremely Fine. Magnificent old cabinet tone. Very Rare.
From the Angelo S. Collection;
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 64, 17 May 2012, lot 812;
Ex Prof. Dr. Hagen Tronnier Collection, Künker 94, 27 September 2004, lot 865;
Ex Schulten & Co, October 1978, lot 21.
In the First Mithradatic War the Roman forces under Sulla first directed their attention to the city of Athens, which was then ruled by the tyrant Aristion, a puppet of Mithradates. Upon his arrival, Sulla threw up earthworks encompassing not only the city but also the port of Piraeos. Despite several attempts by Archelaos, the Mithradatic commander in Asia, to raise the siege, Athens remained firmly blockaded.
During the year or so of siege, Sulla stripped shrines and Sibyls alike of wealth to fund his war effort. From these and other sources of precious metal Sulla appears to have chosen to strike a currency that would be familiar and acceptable to the surrounding regions. The monogram series seem to have been the first issue, for which Thompson suggested a starting date of 86 BC, after Sulla captured Athens. Another series displaying a trophy are regarded as the second issue, and presumably were struck shortly before Sulla left Athens to return to Rome. It has been suggested however that Sulla would have also struck coins of Athenian type during the period of the siege itself, a sensible notion that would seem to make the trophy series fitting for a post-siege issue.
Extremely Fine. Magnificent old cabinet tone. Very Rare.
From the Angelo S. Collection;
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 64, 17 May 2012, lot 812;
Ex Prof. Dr. Hagen Tronnier Collection, Künker 94, 27 September 2004, lot 865;
Ex Schulten & Co, October 1978, lot 21.
In the First Mithradatic War the Roman forces under Sulla first directed their attention to the city of Athens, which was then ruled by the tyrant Aristion, a puppet of Mithradates. Upon his arrival, Sulla threw up earthworks encompassing not only the city but also the port of Piraeos. Despite several attempts by Archelaos, the Mithradatic commander in Asia, to raise the siege, Athens remained firmly blockaded.
During the year or so of siege, Sulla stripped shrines and Sibyls alike of wealth to fund his war effort. From these and other sources of precious metal Sulla appears to have chosen to strike a currency that would be familiar and acceptable to the surrounding regions. The monogram series seem to have been the first issue, for which Thompson suggested a starting date of 86 BC, after Sulla captured Athens. Another series displaying a trophy are regarded as the second issue, and presumably were struck shortly before Sulla left Athens to return to Rome. It has been suggested however that Sulla would have also struck coins of Athenian type during the period of the siege itself, a sensible notion that would seem to make the trophy series fitting for a post-siege issue.