Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XVII 28 Mar 2019
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Macedon, Akanthos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 470-430 BC. Lion to right, leaping upon and attacking bull crouching to left; in exergue, fish to left / AKANΘION in shallow incuse around quadripartite square, the quarters raised and granulated. Cf. Desneux 95 (unlisted obv. die); SNG ANS -. 17.21g, 29mm, 4h.
Extremely Fine; lustrous metal.
From a private German collection.
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 (see lots 502-506). 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 resulting in an appearance more similar to the reliefs at Persepolis (cf. Roma XVI, lot 201, dated circa 480-470 BC); 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; lustrous metal.
From a private German collection.
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 (see lots 502-506). 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 resulting in an appearance more similar to the reliefs at Persepolis (cf. Roma XVI, lot 201, dated circa 480-470 BC); 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.