AEOLIS. Kyme. Circa 155-143 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 34 mm, 17.00 g, 1 h), Herakleides, magistrate. Diademed head of the Amazon Kyme to right. Rev. KYMAIΩN - ΗPAKΛEIΔHΣ Horse prancing right; below, one-handled cup; below raised foreleg, eagle with closed wings standing right on thunderbolt; all within laurel wreath. Oakley 65.3 and pl. 12 (this coin). SNG Copenhagen 105. A spectacular coin of great beauty. Lightly toned, struck on a very broad flan and of magnificent Hellenistic style. Extremely fine.
Ex Künker 136, 10 March 2008, 631, Leu 77, 11-12 May 2000, 281, Leu 15, May 1976, 285 and Kastner 4, 27 November 1973, 78.
This must be one of the finest tetradrachms from Kyme known: it is not only perfectly struck on a very broad and hence free from the striking weakness that normally plagues this series, the dies were also crafted by a highly skilled artist who created a true Hellenistic masterpiece.