The New York Sale
Auction 42 9 Jan 2018
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Aitolia, Aitolian League. Silver Stater (10.60 g), ca. 250-225 BC. Head of Apollo to right, wearing oak wreath; below neck, ΦI. rev. AITΩΛΩN, Aitolos, with petasos resting on back and sword held under his arm, standing left, foot resting on pile of rocks, holding spear; in left field, Δ. Tsangari 36g, dies D24/R-; BCD Akarnania 444 (same obv. die); SNG Fitzwilliam 5402 (same obv. die); Dewing 1469 (same obv. die). Boldly struck in high relief and lustrous. Delicately toned. An incredible specimen! Nearly Mint State. Estimated Value $2,500
From the Dionysus Collection.
The Aitolian League was a relatively minor tribal confederacy in a wild mountainous region of northern Greece in the fifth century BC, but came of age in 323 BC when it successfully resisted the Macedonian regent Antipater. It was subsequently catapulted to greatness when it organized the defense of Delphi against the marauding Galatians (Celts) in 279 BC. This victory set the League on the path to absorbing the cities and states of mainland Greece, often at the expense of Macedonian interests and those of the rival Achaean League. The Aitolian League was known for its establishment of standardized weights and measures and the use of a common currency throughout the many cities included within the federal state. The present stater is a prime example of Aitolian federal currency, probably struck to finance the League's losing conflicts against Philip V of Macedon in the Social War (220-217 BC) and the First Macedonian War (215-205 BC) or the disastrous Aitolian War (191-189 BC) against the Romans. Despite having the support of a grand Seleukid army led by Antiochos III, the League was defeated and forcibly dissolved by the Romans.
From the Dionysus Collection.
The Aitolian League was a relatively minor tribal confederacy in a wild mountainous region of northern Greece in the fifth century BC, but came of age in 323 BC when it successfully resisted the Macedonian regent Antipater. It was subsequently catapulted to greatness when it organized the defense of Delphi against the marauding Galatians (Celts) in 279 BC. This victory set the League on the path to absorbing the cities and states of mainland Greece, often at the expense of Macedonian interests and those of the rival Achaean League. The Aitolian League was known for its establishment of standardized weights and measures and the use of a common currency throughout the many cities included within the federal state. The present stater is a prime example of Aitolian federal currency, probably struck to finance the League's losing conflicts against Philip V of Macedon in the Social War (220-217 BC) and the First Macedonian War (215-205 BC) or the disastrous Aitolian War (191-189 BC) against the Romans. Despite having the support of a grand Seleukid army led by Antiochos III, the League was defeated and forcibly dissolved by the Romans.