Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Sale 38 29 Jul 2017
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Paphlagonia, Amastris AR Didrachm. Circa 285-250 BC. Head of Mên right, wearing Phrygian cap / Aphrodite seated left, holding Nike, who crowns her with wreath, and lotus-tipped sceptre. Callataÿ, Premier 19/18 (D7/R7 - unlisted combination); SNG von Aulock 6799 (same rev. die); cf. HGC 7, 353-354. 9.43g, 20mm, 1h.
Very Fine.
The tale of Amastris, whose likeness is borne on the coins of the city which took her name, is a tragic one. She was the daughter of Oxyathres, brother of Darios III Great King of Persia. Given in marriage by Alexander the Great to his general Krateros, she was later abandoned when Krateros decided to wed Phila, one of the daughters of Antipater. Her second marriage was to Dionysios, tyrant of Herakleia Pontica, who was reported to be mild and just, and to whom she bore two sons, Klearchos II and Oxyathres. Some years after Dionysios' early death she married Lysimachos, who quickly left her in favour of Ptolemy I's daughter Arsinoe. She thus retired to Herakleia which she governed on behalf of her young sons. Shortly after 300 BC she founded a city on the coast of Paphlagonia, by the synoecism (fusion) of the four smaller towns of Sesamos, Kromna, Kytoros and Tium, which she named after herself. She was drowned by her two sons around 284 BC, though they did not live long to profit by their heinous act, for justice soon found them in the form of Lysimachos, who had them put to death.
Very Fine.
The tale of Amastris, whose likeness is borne on the coins of the city which took her name, is a tragic one. She was the daughter of Oxyathres, brother of Darios III Great King of Persia. Given in marriage by Alexander the Great to his general Krateros, she was later abandoned when Krateros decided to wed Phila, one of the daughters of Antipater. Her second marriage was to Dionysios, tyrant of Herakleia Pontica, who was reported to be mild and just, and to whom she bore two sons, Klearchos II and Oxyathres. Some years after Dionysios' early death she married Lysimachos, who quickly left her in favour of Ptolemy I's daughter Arsinoe. She thus retired to Herakleia which she governed on behalf of her young sons. Shortly after 300 BC she founded a city on the coast of Paphlagonia, by the synoecism (fusion) of the four smaller towns of Sesamos, Kromna, Kytoros and Tium, which she named after herself. She was drowned by her two sons around 284 BC, though they did not live long to profit by their heinous act, for justice soon found them in the form of Lysimachos, who had them put to death.