Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XX 29-30 Oct 2020
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Ionia, Miletos AR Drachm. Circa 205 BC. Laureate head of Apollo facing slightly right / Lion standing left, head reverted; in left upper field, MI monogram over ME monogram; in right upper field, sun-burst; in exergue, [M]ENANΔΡ[ΟΣ]. Unpublished in the standard references, for magistrates' name cf. P. Kinns, 'The Coinage of Miletos', in NC 1986 p. 255 note 59 and Giessener Münzhandlung 90, 330 (hemidrachm); for type cf. Deppert-Lippitz 633-4 (hemidrachms); cf. Roma Numismatics E-Sale 26, 212 (hemidrachm); for dating cf. P Kinns, Milesian Notes in Opuscula Anatolica II, 2003, pp.11-12. 5.35g, 20mm, 1h.
Extremely Fine. Unique and unpublished, save for its previous auction appearance, and of great numismatic importance.
From the Long Valley River Collection;
Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XI, 7 April 2016, lot 298;
Ex private German collection.
This beautiful drachm of Miletos represents a remarkable break with the city's century and a half old tradition of issuing silver coinage with a profile head of Apollo. While a facing-Apollo head had been employed at Miletos from c. 260 BC for bronze issues that would retain the same types (facing Apollo, and lion standing with head reverted) through to the end of the series c. 200 BC, prior to the publication of this coin in Roma Numismatics XI, the facing-Apollo series was known in silver only from the extremely rare hemidrachm denomination (surviving in only seven examples). These hemidrachms were assessed by P. Kinns (Opuscula Anatolica II, 2003, Milesian notes, pp.11-12) as being struck at a higher than usual weight (2.53g - 2.82g, compared to an average of 2.35g - 2.53g for the 'regular' profile head issues), corresponding to an earlier standard in use around 260-250 BC. He furthermore observes that this higher weight standard was quickly abandoned in favour of a return to lighter profile-head coins. This unique drachm confirms the higher weight standard briefly used, as it equates to 2 hemidrachms of 2.68g, which is precisely as expected given the mean weight of the surviving specimens.
The circumstance for the striking of the facing-Apollo silver coins, which are contemporary with the final group of middle-denomination facing-Apollo bronzes, may be found in the Cretan War of 205-200 BC. The Macedonians under Philip V had just concluded a favourable treaty with Rome following the First Macedonian War, but undertook not to expand further westwards; while Rome preoccupied itself with Carthage then, Philip looked east and resolved to seize control of the Greek world. Having defeated the Kingdom of Pergamon and allied with the Aetolian League and several of the major Cretan cities, the only serious power that opposed Philip was the city-state of Rhodes and its allies. Despite Rhodes and its allies having dealt the Macedonian navy near crippling losses in the Battle of Chios in 201, Philip was not defeated and shifted his attention to Karia. Rhodes' fleet had repositioned to the strait between Lade and in order to block the approach to Miletos - the most likely Macedonian objective, and the door to Karia and Rhodes' own mainland territories, however the Rhodian fleet accepted an engagement at a numerical disadvantage and this time were defeated in short order.
Polybius (The Histories, XVI.15) relates that "the Milesians, in great alarm at what had happened... voted a crown to Philip for his brilliant attack", and the city fell under Macedonian control. Though the historical sources for this conflict are sparse, Miletos had long maintained a close relationship with the Ptolemies, as had Rhodes, and with Miletos being located in close proximity to the Rhodian Peraia (the mainland territories controlled and colonised by Rhodes), it is safe to infer that if the city was not in fact allied to Rhodes prior to 201 BC, it was at least sympathetic to its neighbour. Even if Philip's intentions were not clear to the Milesians at the outbreak of war, or even after he had captured and razed Kios and Myrleia, sacked Thasos and enslaved its people after having given them assurances of safety, they would certainly have understood his designs when in the winter of 203/2 he formed an alliance with Antiochos III of the Seleukid Empire in which Antiochos promised to help Philip take control of Ionia, as well as Kyrene and the Cyclades. It is highly likely then, given also that this coin is struck to a weight standard matching that of the contemporary Rhodian coinage, that this issue was a short-lived product of the Cretan War, discontinued after the city's capitulation to Philip.
Extremely Fine. Unique and unpublished, save for its previous auction appearance, and of great numismatic importance.
From the Long Valley River Collection;
Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XI, 7 April 2016, lot 298;
Ex private German collection.
This beautiful drachm of Miletos represents a remarkable break with the city's century and a half old tradition of issuing silver coinage with a profile head of Apollo. While a facing-Apollo head had been employed at Miletos from c. 260 BC for bronze issues that would retain the same types (facing Apollo, and lion standing with head reverted) through to the end of the series c. 200 BC, prior to the publication of this coin in Roma Numismatics XI, the facing-Apollo series was known in silver only from the extremely rare hemidrachm denomination (surviving in only seven examples). These hemidrachms were assessed by P. Kinns (Opuscula Anatolica II, 2003, Milesian notes, pp.11-12) as being struck at a higher than usual weight (2.53g - 2.82g, compared to an average of 2.35g - 2.53g for the 'regular' profile head issues), corresponding to an earlier standard in use around 260-250 BC. He furthermore observes that this higher weight standard was quickly abandoned in favour of a return to lighter profile-head coins. This unique drachm confirms the higher weight standard briefly used, as it equates to 2 hemidrachms of 2.68g, which is precisely as expected given the mean weight of the surviving specimens.
The circumstance for the striking of the facing-Apollo silver coins, which are contemporary with the final group of middle-denomination facing-Apollo bronzes, may be found in the Cretan War of 205-200 BC. The Macedonians under Philip V had just concluded a favourable treaty with Rome following the First Macedonian War, but undertook not to expand further westwards; while Rome preoccupied itself with Carthage then, Philip looked east and resolved to seize control of the Greek world. Having defeated the Kingdom of Pergamon and allied with the Aetolian League and several of the major Cretan cities, the only serious power that opposed Philip was the city-state of Rhodes and its allies. Despite Rhodes and its allies having dealt the Macedonian navy near crippling losses in the Battle of Chios in 201, Philip was not defeated and shifted his attention to Karia. Rhodes' fleet had repositioned to the strait between Lade and in order to block the approach to Miletos - the most likely Macedonian objective, and the door to Karia and Rhodes' own mainland territories, however the Rhodian fleet accepted an engagement at a numerical disadvantage and this time were defeated in short order.
Polybius (The Histories, XVI.15) relates that "the Milesians, in great alarm at what had happened... voted a crown to Philip for his brilliant attack", and the city fell under Macedonian control. Though the historical sources for this conflict are sparse, Miletos had long maintained a close relationship with the Ptolemies, as had Rhodes, and with Miletos being located in close proximity to the Rhodian Peraia (the mainland territories controlled and colonised by Rhodes), it is safe to infer that if the city was not in fact allied to Rhodes prior to 201 BC, it was at least sympathetic to its neighbour. Even if Philip's intentions were not clear to the Milesians at the outbreak of war, or even after he had captured and razed Kios and Myrleia, sacked Thasos and enslaved its people after having given them assurances of safety, they would certainly have understood his designs when in the winter of 203/2 he formed an alliance with Antiochos III of the Seleukid Empire in which Antiochos promised to help Philip take control of Ionia, as well as Kyrene and the Cyclades. It is highly likely then, given also that this coin is struck to a weight standard matching that of the contemporary Rhodian coinage, that this issue was a short-lived product of the Cretan War, discontinued after the city's capitulation to Philip.