Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Sale 77 26 Nov 2020
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Thrace, Lysimacheia(?) PB Hemimnaion (1/2 Mina) Weight. Circa late 4th-2nd century BC. Lion walking to left, breaking spear in jaws(?) / Blank. Cf. O. Tekin, Balance Weights in the Aegean World, Istanbul 2016, pp. 60-3, pl. 7, figs. 49-51, for another triangular weight of Lysimacheia, cf. fig. 65. 249.60g, 66mm x 58mm.
Condition as seen.
The stance of the lion depicted on this triangular weight bears a striking resemblance to the reverse types depicting a lion crouching leftwards, breaking a spear held in its mouth found on the coinage of Kardia (for example, see HGC 3.2, 1477). This reverse type almost certainly provided the prototype for another hemimnaion weight bearing the ethnic for Lysimacheia (see Gorny & Mosch Auction 169, lot 448 = Tekin 15, fig. 49).
The recorded weights of Lysimacheia suggest a mina of around 500g on a standard of 112/114 drachms (see Tekin, references). The weight of the present hemimnaion corresponds to this exactly and the presence of the lion, along with its similarity to the aforementioned example, suggest it can be tentatively attributed to Lysimacheia.
Condition as seen.
The stance of the lion depicted on this triangular weight bears a striking resemblance to the reverse types depicting a lion crouching leftwards, breaking a spear held in its mouth found on the coinage of Kardia (for example, see HGC 3.2, 1477). This reverse type almost certainly provided the prototype for another hemimnaion weight bearing the ethnic for Lysimacheia (see Gorny & Mosch Auction 169, lot 448 = Tekin 15, fig. 49).
The recorded weights of Lysimacheia suggest a mina of around 500g on a standard of 112/114 drachms (see Tekin, references). The weight of the present hemimnaion corresponds to this exactly and the presence of the lion, along with its similarity to the aforementioned example, suggest it can be tentatively attributed to Lysimacheia.