Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XVIII 29 Sep 2019
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Dynasts of Lykia, Perikles AR Stater. Circa 380-375 BC. Head of Perikles three-quarters facing, turned slightly to left, wearing laurel wreath and drapery around neck / Warrior, nude but for crested Corinthian helmet, in fighting attitude to right, holding sword aloft in right hand, shield on left arm; Π↑PEKΛ↑ (PERIKLE in Lycian) around, triskeles to lower right; all within shallow incuse square. Mildenberg, Mithrapata 27 (dies 16/22); Podalia 434–47 (A3/P10); cf. Falghera 215; SNG Copenhagen Supp. 478 var. (no star); SNG von Aulock 4253 (same dies). 9.79g, 23mm, 6h.
Near Extremely Fine. Rare, and uncommonly well preserved for the issue, with a superbly detailed reverse.
Acquired from Muizon Rieunier, Paris.
Lykian Perikles, dubbed 'the other Pericles' by Bryce (Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte, Bd. 29, H. 3, 1980) to distinguish him from his more famous Athenian namesake, was a native of the city of Limyra who eventually came to be sovereign of the whole of Lykia. Bryce speculates that Hellenistic influences seen in Lykian architectural and sculpture around this period suggest that Perikles' own name may have been an adopted one taken as an homage to the former Athenian general in an attempt to both distance himself from Persian influence in the area, and to present himself as just such a leader. Bryce uses this coin type as further evidence of Perikles' active move away from Persian influence during his rule; previous coinage of the dynasts of Lykia show a clearly satrapal-style portrait, where the dynasts often wear a bashlik or kyrbasia (see Roma XIV, lot 258 & 259), whereas this coin depicts a laureate head, facing three quarters with long wavy hair, providing an overall much more Hellenised effect, particularly given the contemporary vogue for such facing portraits, made popular by Kimon a couple of decades or so earlier.
Near Extremely Fine. Rare, and uncommonly well preserved for the issue, with a superbly detailed reverse.
Acquired from Muizon Rieunier, Paris.
Lykian Perikles, dubbed 'the other Pericles' by Bryce (Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte, Bd. 29, H. 3, 1980) to distinguish him from his more famous Athenian namesake, was a native of the city of Limyra who eventually came to be sovereign of the whole of Lykia. Bryce speculates that Hellenistic influences seen in Lykian architectural and sculpture around this period suggest that Perikles' own name may have been an adopted one taken as an homage to the former Athenian general in an attempt to both distance himself from Persian influence in the area, and to present himself as just such a leader. Bryce uses this coin type as further evidence of Perikles' active move away from Persian influence during his rule; previous coinage of the dynasts of Lykia show a clearly satrapal-style portrait, where the dynasts often wear a bashlik or kyrbasia (see Roma XIV, lot 258 & 259), whereas this coin depicts a laureate head, facing three quarters with long wavy hair, providing an overall much more Hellenised effect, particularly given the contemporary vogue for such facing portraits, made popular by Kimon a couple of decades or so earlier.