Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XII 29 September 2016
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Attica, Athens AR New Style Tetradrachm. Circa 154-3 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with vine tendril and Pegasos / Owl standing right, head facing, on amphora; AΘE across, monograms flanking, caps of the Dioskouroi to right; all within wreath. Thompson 61 (this obv. die). 17.05g, 34mm, 12h.
Very Fine. Beautifully toned. Rare early issue. An obverse die of excellent style, vastly superior to the usual New Style tetradrachms.
Ex Münzen & Medaillen List 483, November 1985, lot 28;
Ex Münzen & Medaillen List 416, October 1979, lot 8.
In approximately 165 BC, Athens introduced a new series of silver tetradrachm, referred to today as 'New Style Coinage'. At the time, it represented a landmark change in the coinage of Athens. Although the types had not changed, and still depicted Athena on the obverse and an owl on the reverse, this new coinage saw a marked change in the artistic styles employed in the engraving. The traditional, more archaising devices that had been the norm during the previous three centuries were replaced with a contemporary interpretation of the Athena Parthenos of Pheidias, wearing her triple-crested Attic helmet adorned on its visor with the foreparts of four or more horses, and a flying Pegasos on the bowl. On the reverse, the owl was now shown standing on a horizontal amphora, with a profligacy of magistrates' names, symbols, and other letters occupying every available space, all enclosed within a large olive wreath.
These new depictions were facilitated by, or more likely the result of, the coins' oversized flans which were broader and thinner, offering the engraver a larger canvas upon which to work, while also requiring some innovative thinking to make use of the space.
The new coinage was produced on a large scale, and this apparent improvement in Athens' economy is attributed to the city's recovery of the port of Delos in 166 BC. As with the fifth century issues, the new coinage became an important and respected trade currency, as attested by the hoard deposits throughout the Mediterranean, and indeed the broad, thin flan also gained favour at other cities, which began to issue similar tetradrachms in imitation. The series reached a zenith in the early first century BC, but Sulla's capture of Athens in the spring of 86 BC was a severe shock to the city's prosperity, and caused a dramatic reduction in the issue of coinage. Until this point, the coins had been produced in an unbroken annual cycle, but there were thereafter only a few sporadic issues, and the series ceased entirely in 50-40 BC.
Very Fine. Beautifully toned. Rare early issue. An obverse die of excellent style, vastly superior to the usual New Style tetradrachms.
Ex Münzen & Medaillen List 483, November 1985, lot 28;
Ex Münzen & Medaillen List 416, October 1979, lot 8.
In approximately 165 BC, Athens introduced a new series of silver tetradrachm, referred to today as 'New Style Coinage'. At the time, it represented a landmark change in the coinage of Athens. Although the types had not changed, and still depicted Athena on the obverse and an owl on the reverse, this new coinage saw a marked change in the artistic styles employed in the engraving. The traditional, more archaising devices that had been the norm during the previous three centuries were replaced with a contemporary interpretation of the Athena Parthenos of Pheidias, wearing her triple-crested Attic helmet adorned on its visor with the foreparts of four or more horses, and a flying Pegasos on the bowl. On the reverse, the owl was now shown standing on a horizontal amphora, with a profligacy of magistrates' names, symbols, and other letters occupying every available space, all enclosed within a large olive wreath.
These new depictions were facilitated by, or more likely the result of, the coins' oversized flans which were broader and thinner, offering the engraver a larger canvas upon which to work, while also requiring some innovative thinking to make use of the space.
The new coinage was produced on a large scale, and this apparent improvement in Athens' economy is attributed to the city's recovery of the port of Delos in 166 BC. As with the fifth century issues, the new coinage became an important and respected trade currency, as attested by the hoard deposits throughout the Mediterranean, and indeed the broad, thin flan also gained favour at other cities, which began to issue similar tetradrachms in imitation. The series reached a zenith in the early first century BC, but Sulla's capture of Athens in the spring of 86 BC was a severe shock to the city's prosperity, and caused a dramatic reduction in the issue of coinage. Until this point, the coins had been produced in an unbroken annual cycle, but there were thereafter only a few sporadic issues, and the series ceased entirely in 50-40 BC.