Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XVI 26 Sep 2018
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Macedon, Akanthos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 470-430 BC. Lion to right, attacking bull crouching to left with head raised; in exergue, tunny fish to left / AKANΘION in shallow incuse around quadripartite square, the quarters raised and granulated. Cf. Desneux 96ff (unlisted obv. die); SNG ANS -. 17.25g, 30mm, 9h.
Extremely Fine; wonderful old cabinet tone.
From the Mordecai Medvin Collection;
Privately purchased from V. C. Vecchi & Sons, London, 1979.
The lion and bull motif, discussed in detail on the previous lot, was apparently adopted early on by Akanthos (c. 530-500 BC), though the lion and the bull were in any case among the earliest figures to appear on coinage - the mid-6th century BC coinage of the Lydian kings Alyattes and Kroisos is the best example of this usage. Already by this time too, the lion attack motif was in popular usage in mainland Greece - see for example the near contemporary Attic black-figure tripod in the manner of the KY Painter (Athens 12688). Persian influence on the design of tetradrachms of Akanthos can perhaps be inferred from an orientalising of style (see for example 201) resulting in an appearance more similar to the reliefs at Persepolis; Herodotos (7.116) records the Akanthians officially welcomed the Persians and willingly helped Xerxes: "Xerxes... declared the Akanthians his guests and friends, and gave them Median clothing, praising them for the zeal with which he saw them furthering his campaign." Having thus taken part in the Persian campaign against Greece of its own accord, when Xerxes was defeated Akanthos subsequently become a member of the Delian League. It is tempting to see in the re-westernisation of the style of their coinage a reflection of this political volte-face.
Extremely Fine; wonderful old cabinet tone.
From the Mordecai Medvin Collection;
Privately purchased from V. C. Vecchi & Sons, London, 1979.
The lion and bull motif, discussed in detail on the previous lot, was apparently adopted early on by Akanthos (c. 530-500 BC), though the lion and the bull were in any case among the earliest figures to appear on coinage - the mid-6th century BC coinage of the Lydian kings Alyattes and Kroisos is the best example of this usage. Already by this time too, the lion attack motif was in popular usage in mainland Greece - see for example the near contemporary Attic black-figure tripod in the manner of the KY Painter (Athens 12688). Persian influence on the design of tetradrachms of Akanthos can perhaps be inferred from an orientalising of style (see for example 201) resulting in an appearance more similar to the reliefs at Persepolis; Herodotos (7.116) records the Akanthians officially welcomed the Persians and willingly helped Xerxes: "Xerxes... declared the Akanthians his guests and friends, and gave them Median clothing, praising them for the zeal with which he saw them furthering his campaign." Having thus taken part in the Persian campaign against Greece of its own accord, when Xerxes was defeated Akanthos subsequently become a member of the Delian League. It is tempting to see in the re-westernisation of the style of their coinage a reflection of this political volte-face.