Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 120 6-7 Oct 2020
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Agrigentum
Tetradrachm signed by engraver Myron circa 410-406, AR 17.08 g. Fast quadriga driven r. by charioteer holding kentron and reins; above, Nike flying l., holding wreath and below, MYP. In exergue, Scylla r. Rev. [AKP]AΓ – ANTINON Two eagles, one raising head and screaming, the other with head lowered, both perched on dead hare which lies upon a rock. BMC 53 (these dies). Seltman 3b (this coin). Forrer p. 246 (this coin listed). Gillet 343 (this coin). Rizzo pl. 2, 6 and pl. 4, 3 (this coin). Wealth of Ancient World 76 (this coin). Westermark 583.2 (this coin).
Of the highest rarity, possibly the best of only three specimens known. One of the finest
tetradrachms of Agrigentum in existence and undoubtedly the most elegant and
finely executed reverse die of the entire series. A coin of enchanting beauty
struck on a large flan and with a wonderful old cabinet tone.
Unobtrusive scratch on obverse, otherwise extremely fine
Ex Hamburger 2nd April 1894, 135; Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge 28th May 1900, Rothschild, 83; Leu-MM 28, 1974, Kunstfreud, 80 and Sothebys 19th June 1990, Hunt part I, 76 sales. From the Charles Gillet collection.
Akragas, located along the southwestern coast of Sicily, was founded in 580 BC by Dorian Greeks from Gela and Rhodes. Its colonization was intended to serve as bastion of Geloan influence in western Sicily but Akragas soon eclipsed its mother city in importance and became the dominant Greek settlement in the west. The coinage of Akragas began early, ca. 510 BC, with a series of Attic-weight didrachms featuring an eagle on the obverse and a crab on the reverse, types that would remain the civic badges of the city well into the fourth century. By the mid-fifth century the city had begun issuing Attic-weight tetradrachms alongside the didrachms, as well as smaller silver issues on the litra standard to facilitate day-to-day commerce. All of these types, however, were lacking fluidity in their artistic expression, presenting a rather staid and homogeneous appearance overall.By the end of the fifth century things had drastically changed. Master engravers began producing exceptional miniature works of medallic art throughout Sicily, and Akragas was no exception to this trend. Like other artists of the time, the engraver of the obverse die that was used to strike this magnificent tetradrachm, signed his name MYP (probably for Myron) below the horses hooves. The scene captures the thrill of the race, with the charioteer firmly in control. One of the horses looks back at the driver, while above Nike flies toward him to crown him with a victory wreath. In the exergue is the monster Skylla, the demon plaguing the Strait of Messina. Overall its an impressive scene, brilliant in its execution, magnificently rendered. The type ultimately derives from the contemporary tetradrachms from Syracuse, but may also refer to the victory of Exainetos of Akragas at the Olympic games of 412 BC.
The reverse of this coin is no less impressive than the obverse. It depicts two eagles perched atop a dead hare which itself rests upon a rock, the nearer eagle with its head raised and screeching its delight, the further spreading its wings for balance while already tearing into its prey. Although the die is not boldly signed by the engraver like the obverse, it is certainly from the same hand that engraved the reverse die used to strike Seltman 4. Seltman 4 (also AMB 260) is signed in miniscule letters which read POLYAI (for Polyainos). Here Polyainos keenly captures the haunting beauty (and terror) of the natural world in a scene that is elegantly rendered, animated and dramatic. The die is certainly the finest engraved of all the entire series, and provides the best visual account of certain verses from the tragedy Agamemnon by Aeschylus, in which two mystical eagles appear in the act of lacerating a pregnant hare and which foretold Agamemnons and Menelaoss (the two Atrydes) victory over the city of Troy.
This magnificent tetradrachm issue coincided with a drastic need for coinage at Akragas; war with Carthage was imminent, just over the horizon, and money was needed to pay the mercenaries from Sparta and Syracuse who had heeded the call to help defend the city. Not only did Akragas produce the wonderful tetradrachms – one of the finest ever minted in the classical world – at this time, but we also see an emergency issue of silver decadrachms with the same types as on this coin as well as a gold issue of 1/5 staters (or perhaps dilitra) which display the traditional civic badge of the eagle and crab. All this was wasted effort, however, as ultimately the Carthagian general Himilco utterly destroyed the city after its capture in 406 BC.
Tetradrachm signed by engraver Myron circa 410-406, AR 17.08 g. Fast quadriga driven r. by charioteer holding kentron and reins; above, Nike flying l., holding wreath and below, MYP. In exergue, Scylla r. Rev. [AKP]AΓ – ANTINON Two eagles, one raising head and screaming, the other with head lowered, both perched on dead hare which lies upon a rock. BMC 53 (these dies). Seltman 3b (this coin). Forrer p. 246 (this coin listed). Gillet 343 (this coin). Rizzo pl. 2, 6 and pl. 4, 3 (this coin). Wealth of Ancient World 76 (this coin). Westermark 583.2 (this coin).
Of the highest rarity, possibly the best of only three specimens known. One of the finest
tetradrachms of Agrigentum in existence and undoubtedly the most elegant and
finely executed reverse die of the entire series. A coin of enchanting beauty
struck on a large flan and with a wonderful old cabinet tone.
Unobtrusive scratch on obverse, otherwise extremely fine
Ex Hamburger 2nd April 1894, 135; Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge 28th May 1900, Rothschild, 83; Leu-MM 28, 1974, Kunstfreud, 80 and Sothebys 19th June 1990, Hunt part I, 76 sales. From the Charles Gillet collection.
Akragas, located along the southwestern coast of Sicily, was founded in 580 BC by Dorian Greeks from Gela and Rhodes. Its colonization was intended to serve as bastion of Geloan influence in western Sicily but Akragas soon eclipsed its mother city in importance and became the dominant Greek settlement in the west. The coinage of Akragas began early, ca. 510 BC, with a series of Attic-weight didrachms featuring an eagle on the obverse and a crab on the reverse, types that would remain the civic badges of the city well into the fourth century. By the mid-fifth century the city had begun issuing Attic-weight tetradrachms alongside the didrachms, as well as smaller silver issues on the litra standard to facilitate day-to-day commerce. All of these types, however, were lacking fluidity in their artistic expression, presenting a rather staid and homogeneous appearance overall.By the end of the fifth century things had drastically changed. Master engravers began producing exceptional miniature works of medallic art throughout Sicily, and Akragas was no exception to this trend. Like other artists of the time, the engraver of the obverse die that was used to strike this magnificent tetradrachm, signed his name MYP (probably for Myron) below the horses hooves. The scene captures the thrill of the race, with the charioteer firmly in control. One of the horses looks back at the driver, while above Nike flies toward him to crown him with a victory wreath. In the exergue is the monster Skylla, the demon plaguing the Strait of Messina. Overall its an impressive scene, brilliant in its execution, magnificently rendered. The type ultimately derives from the contemporary tetradrachms from Syracuse, but may also refer to the victory of Exainetos of Akragas at the Olympic games of 412 BC.
The reverse of this coin is no less impressive than the obverse. It depicts two eagles perched atop a dead hare which itself rests upon a rock, the nearer eagle with its head raised and screeching its delight, the further spreading its wings for balance while already tearing into its prey. Although the die is not boldly signed by the engraver like the obverse, it is certainly from the same hand that engraved the reverse die used to strike Seltman 4. Seltman 4 (also AMB 260) is signed in miniscule letters which read POLYAI (for Polyainos). Here Polyainos keenly captures the haunting beauty (and terror) of the natural world in a scene that is elegantly rendered, animated and dramatic. The die is certainly the finest engraved of all the entire series, and provides the best visual account of certain verses from the tragedy Agamemnon by Aeschylus, in which two mystical eagles appear in the act of lacerating a pregnant hare and which foretold Agamemnons and Menelaoss (the two Atrydes) victory over the city of Troy.
This magnificent tetradrachm issue coincided with a drastic need for coinage at Akragas; war with Carthage was imminent, just over the horizon, and money was needed to pay the mercenaries from Sparta and Syracuse who had heeded the call to help defend the city. Not only did Akragas produce the wonderful tetradrachms – one of the finest ever minted in the classical world – at this time, but we also see an emergency issue of silver decadrachms with the same types as on this coin as well as a gold issue of 1/5 staters (or perhaps dilitra) which display the traditional civic badge of the eagle and crab. All this was wasted effort, however, as ultimately the Carthagian general Himilco utterly destroyed the city after its capture in 406 BC.