Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XX 29-30 Oct 2020
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Macedon, Chalkidian League AR Tetradrachm. Olynthos, circa 382-379 BC. Laureate head of Apollo to left / Kithara with seven strings, XAΛKIΔEΩN around; all within shallow incuse square. Robinson & Clement Group H, 14 (same dies); cf. Traité IV pl. CCCXIII, 4; cf. BMFA Suppl. 43 and 43a; HGC 3.1, 499. 14.30g, 25mm, 3h.
Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone.
Ex private British collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XVI, 26 September 2018, lot 205 (sold for £5,500);
Ex A. Tkalec AG, 28 October 1994, lot 71;
Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Auction 54, 28 April 1992, lot 77.
The extensive 'Group H' coinage appears to have been produced in order to finance the Olynthian war effort against a Spartan campaign to subdue the city and dissolve the Chalkidian League in 382-379 BC.
In 393 BC Amyntas III of Macedon was driven out by Illyrians, and was forced to transfer control of some of his territories to Olynthos. When in the following year he recovered his throne with the assistance of the Thessalians, these territories were restored to him. In order to counter the threat of the Illyrians, Amyntas established an alliance with Olynthos, granting them trade rights to Macedonian timber in exchange for their support. This timber was sold to Athens to rebuild their fleet, and with Athenian silver flowing north to Olynthos, the Chalkidian League gradually grew in wealth and power.
Amid continuous Illyrian invasions along the northern border of Macedon, in around 385 BC Amyntas once more mortgaged certain territories, this time formally to the Chalkidian League. By 382 the League had absorbed most of the Greek cities west of the river Strymon, and unlike in 392, it was reluctant to return control of the Macedonian territories that Amyntas had relinquished, which included the capital at Pella. Amyntas now sought the aid of Sparta against the growing threat of the Chalkidian League; his disposition was shared by the cities of Akanthos and Apollonia, who anticipated their own imminent conquest. Sparta, keen to reassert its presence in northern Greece, consented and a force of 10,000 was mobilised and dispatched against the League. An advance force of 2,000 under Eudamidas succeeded in separating Potidaea from the League; meanwhile the main force under Teleutias, brother of the Spartan king Agesilaos II, proceeded slowly, being augmented by allied contingents as it went. Teleutias thus arrived in Olynthian territory at the head of a substantial army and won an initial victory outside the city walls of Olynthos. In the spring of 381 however, Teleutias allowed himself to be drawn in too close to the walls, whereupon his forces came under missile fire and were routed with heavy losses by an Olynthian sortie, Teleutias himself being killed in the engagement.
With the death of Teleutias, command passed to king Agesipolis I, who in 380 recommenced operations against the League, taking the city of Toroni in an assault. Agesipolis' success was short-lived however, as he was taken with fever and died within seven days. After three years of protracted but indecisive warfare, Olynthos consented to dissolve the Chalkidian League.
Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone.
Ex private British collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XVI, 26 September 2018, lot 205 (sold for £5,500);
Ex A. Tkalec AG, 28 October 1994, lot 71;
Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Auction 54, 28 April 1992, lot 77.
The extensive 'Group H' coinage appears to have been produced in order to finance the Olynthian war effort against a Spartan campaign to subdue the city and dissolve the Chalkidian League in 382-379 BC.
In 393 BC Amyntas III of Macedon was driven out by Illyrians, and was forced to transfer control of some of his territories to Olynthos. When in the following year he recovered his throne with the assistance of the Thessalians, these territories were restored to him. In order to counter the threat of the Illyrians, Amyntas established an alliance with Olynthos, granting them trade rights to Macedonian timber in exchange for their support. This timber was sold to Athens to rebuild their fleet, and with Athenian silver flowing north to Olynthos, the Chalkidian League gradually grew in wealth and power.
Amid continuous Illyrian invasions along the northern border of Macedon, in around 385 BC Amyntas once more mortgaged certain territories, this time formally to the Chalkidian League. By 382 the League had absorbed most of the Greek cities west of the river Strymon, and unlike in 392, it was reluctant to return control of the Macedonian territories that Amyntas had relinquished, which included the capital at Pella. Amyntas now sought the aid of Sparta against the growing threat of the Chalkidian League; his disposition was shared by the cities of Akanthos and Apollonia, who anticipated their own imminent conquest. Sparta, keen to reassert its presence in northern Greece, consented and a force of 10,000 was mobilised and dispatched against the League. An advance force of 2,000 under Eudamidas succeeded in separating Potidaea from the League; meanwhile the main force under Teleutias, brother of the Spartan king Agesilaos II, proceeded slowly, being augmented by allied contingents as it went. Teleutias thus arrived in Olynthian territory at the head of a substantial army and won an initial victory outside the city walls of Olynthos. In the spring of 381 however, Teleutias allowed himself to be drawn in too close to the walls, whereupon his forces came under missile fire and were routed with heavy losses by an Olynthian sortie, Teleutias himself being killed in the engagement.
With the death of Teleutias, command passed to king Agesipolis I, who in 380 recommenced operations against the League, taking the city of Toroni in an assault. Agesipolis' success was short-lived however, as he was taken with fever and died within seven days. After three years of protracted but indecisive warfare, Olynthos consented to dissolve the Chalkidian League.