Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 458 18 Dec 2019
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PAPHLAGONIA, Amastris. Circa 285-250 BC. AR Stater (22mm, 9.29 g, 12h). Head of Mên right, wearing Phrygian cap decorated with laurel branch and star / Aphrodite seated left, holding in extended right hand Nike, who crowns her with wreath, and cradling lotus-tipped scepter in left arm; rose to left, A below throne. Callataÿ, Premier, Group 2, 41 (D16/R19); RG 5; HGC 7, 356; Bement 1344 (same dies); Gulbenkian 952 (same dies). Deeply toned. In NGC encapsulation 4374612-002, graded Ch VF, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5. Extremely rare with A below throne, only five known to Callataÿ, two additional in CoinArchives (including the present coin).
Ex Gemini VII (9 January 2011), lot 439. Reportedly ex Norman Davis Collection (not in 1967 published collection).
There is speculation that the obverse of this coin actually depicts Amastris, a niece of Darios III of Persia, who became a pawn in the complex dynastic quarrels that followed the death of Alexander. She had been given as wife to Alexander's general Krateros, but was dismissed when Krateros arranged a marriage for himself with the daughter of Antipater. Amastris then married Dionysos, tyrant of Herakleia, by whom she had three children before his death in 306 BC. In 302 BC, she married Lysimachos of Thrace, who soon acquired a more profitable alliance by wedding Arsinoë, the daughter of Ptolemy I Soter of Egypt. Amastris then retired to the territory of Herakleia, where she founded a new city named after herself. She was not destined to find peace, however; in 288 BC her two covetous sons had her drowned and seized her city for themselves.
Ex Gemini VII (9 January 2011), lot 439. Reportedly ex Norman Davis Collection (not in 1967 published collection).
There is speculation that the obverse of this coin actually depicts Amastris, a niece of Darios III of Persia, who became a pawn in the complex dynastic quarrels that followed the death of Alexander. She had been given as wife to Alexander's general Krateros, but was dismissed when Krateros arranged a marriage for himself with the daughter of Antipater. Amastris then married Dionysos, tyrant of Herakleia, by whom she had three children before his death in 306 BC. In 302 BC, she married Lysimachos of Thrace, who soon acquired a more profitable alliance by wedding Arsinoë, the daughter of Ptolemy I Soter of Egypt. Amastris then retired to the territory of Herakleia, where she founded a new city named after herself. She was not destined to find peace, however; in 288 BC her two covetous sons had her drowned and seized her city for themselves.