Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XVIII 29 Sep 2019
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Attica, Athens 'Wappenmünzen' series AR Didrachm. Circa 520 BC. Gorgoneion facing, with open mouth and protruding tongue / Quadripartite incuse square, divided diagonally. Seltman 87 (A60/P65); Svoronos-Pick pl. I, 63; Kroll pl. 2, 15. 8.23g, 19mm.
Good Very Fine; somewhat crystallised, old collection tone. Extremely Rare.
From the collection of an antiquarian, Bavaria c. 1960s-1990s.
The extremely rare early Athenian coinage, popularly referred to as 'Wappenmünzen', comes in varied types that have left scholars roundly puzzled, especially so since Seltman's traditionally accepted theory which gave these coins their name was thoroughly debunked. Seltman's 1924 hypothesis, stating that the differing obverses on these coins were the coats-of-arms of prominent Athenian families, has been generally disputed primarily due to the fact that coats-of-arms are most probably a more modern conception and there is little to no evidence to support the existence of them in early Athens. Kroll (American Numismatic Society Museum Notes Vol. 26, 1981), discusses a related approach to the mystery of these coins: using the evidence of the Phanes series from Ephesos (see Roma XVII, lot 440), he posits that the obverse design on these coins could be the badges of different mint officials, who attest that the coins are the correct weight and alloy. This would explain the wide variety of obverses found on these coins, although, unlike the Phanes coinage, there is no trace of legend on these coins that would attest to such a usage. Kroll emphasises the strong links between Ionia and Athens at this time to strengthen his argument (Peisistratos travelled frequently around the Hellespont and created positive bonds with Ionian cities); Ionian influence could thus be seen in Athenian architecture and sculpture (A. Andrewes, The Greek Tyrants, 1956) during this period, so why not their coinage?
Yet Kroll distinguishes the gorgoneion type as different from the other Wappenmünzen series coins; as this distinctive design is seen on tetradrachms as well as didrachms and also appears on coins with figurative reverses, he suggests that the facing gorgoneion head should be viewed as symbol of Athens itself rather than of an individual mint official. Being as the gorgoneion was an inseparable attribute of Athena, eponymous patron goddess of the city, Kroll sees it as only natural that this emblem should have been employed on the coinage as the city sought to further develop its national identity. Kroll (in common with other scholars) states that the gorgoneion type coins are the last issue of the Wappenmünzen series due to their similarity in metal and weight standard to following Athena head issues. This supports his theory that this type acts as a bridge from the individually identified series to the main series Athenian tetradrachms displaying the helmeted head of Athena on the obverse and her soon to become ubiquitous owl on the reverse.
Good Very Fine; somewhat crystallised, old collection tone. Extremely Rare.
From the collection of an antiquarian, Bavaria c. 1960s-1990s.
The extremely rare early Athenian coinage, popularly referred to as 'Wappenmünzen', comes in varied types that have left scholars roundly puzzled, especially so since Seltman's traditionally accepted theory which gave these coins their name was thoroughly debunked. Seltman's 1924 hypothesis, stating that the differing obverses on these coins were the coats-of-arms of prominent Athenian families, has been generally disputed primarily due to the fact that coats-of-arms are most probably a more modern conception and there is little to no evidence to support the existence of them in early Athens. Kroll (American Numismatic Society Museum Notes Vol. 26, 1981), discusses a related approach to the mystery of these coins: using the evidence of the Phanes series from Ephesos (see Roma XVII, lot 440), he posits that the obverse design on these coins could be the badges of different mint officials, who attest that the coins are the correct weight and alloy. This would explain the wide variety of obverses found on these coins, although, unlike the Phanes coinage, there is no trace of legend on these coins that would attest to such a usage. Kroll emphasises the strong links between Ionia and Athens at this time to strengthen his argument (Peisistratos travelled frequently around the Hellespont and created positive bonds with Ionian cities); Ionian influence could thus be seen in Athenian architecture and sculpture (A. Andrewes, The Greek Tyrants, 1956) during this period, so why not their coinage?
Yet Kroll distinguishes the gorgoneion type as different from the other Wappenmünzen series coins; as this distinctive design is seen on tetradrachms as well as didrachms and also appears on coins with figurative reverses, he suggests that the facing gorgoneion head should be viewed as symbol of Athens itself rather than of an individual mint official. Being as the gorgoneion was an inseparable attribute of Athena, eponymous patron goddess of the city, Kroll sees it as only natural that this emblem should have been employed on the coinage as the city sought to further develop its national identity. Kroll (in common with other scholars) states that the gorgoneion type coins are the last issue of the Wappenmünzen series due to their similarity in metal and weight standard to following Athena head issues. This supports his theory that this type acts as a bridge from the individually identified series to the main series Athenian tetradrachms displaying the helmeted head of Athena on the obverse and her soon to become ubiquitous owl on the reverse.