Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XIX 26-27 Mar 2020
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Macedon, Akanthos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 470-430 BC. Lion to right, attacking bull crouching to left with head half-facing; in exergue, tunny fish to left / AKANΘION in shallow incuse around quadripartite square, the quarters raised and granulated. Cf. Desneux 95 and 97-8 (unlisted dies); AMNG III/2, 21; SNG ANS -; Gorny & Mosch 185, 68 (same dies). 17.38g, 30mm, 2h.
Extremely Fine; beautiful cabinet tone. A beautiful composition, the half-facing head of the bull evidently the work of a talented engraver.
From the inventory of a German dealer.
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; beautiful cabinet tone. A beautiful composition, the half-facing head of the bull evidently the work of a talented engraver.
From the inventory of a German dealer.
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.