The New York Sale
Auction 54 11 Jan 2022
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Macedonian Kingdom. Demetrios I Poliorketes. Silver Tetradrachm (17.12 g), 306-283 BC. Pella, ca. 291/0 BC. Diademed and horned head of Demetrios I right. Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΔHMHTPIOY, Poseidon Pelagaios, nude, standing left, foot propped on rock, holding trident and resting arm on leg; in outer left field, monogram. Newell 82; HGC 3.1, 1014a. Fine style portrait with a pleasing old tone. Very Fine. Estimated Value $700 - UP
The diademed portrait of Demetrios Poliorketes, which is included among the earliest numismatic depictions of a living Hellenistic king, elevates him to the status of a god through the addition of horns. These not only respond to the horn of Ammon on Lysimachos' celebrated coin portrait of the deified Alexander the Great, but refer to Demetrios' association with Poseidon (in his aspect as Taureos), whose sacred animal was the bull. Indeed, the Athenians hailed him as a son of the sea-god when he entered their city in 291/0 BC. Should there be any doubt about his connection to Poseidon, a depiction of the god - probably representing a lost statue - appears on the reverse.
Peter Corcoran Collection, Ex NFA Mail Bid Sale (12 October 1988), 204; Ex Rollin & Feuardent (1873).
The diademed portrait of Demetrios Poliorketes, which is included among the earliest numismatic depictions of a living Hellenistic king, elevates him to the status of a god through the addition of horns. These not only respond to the horn of Ammon on Lysimachos' celebrated coin portrait of the deified Alexander the Great, but refer to Demetrios' association with Poseidon (in his aspect as Taureos), whose sacred animal was the bull. Indeed, the Athenians hailed him as a son of the sea-god when he entered their city in 291/0 BC. Should there be any doubt about his connection to Poseidon, a depiction of the god - probably representing a lost statue - appears on the reverse.
Peter Corcoran Collection, Ex NFA Mail Bid Sale (12 October 1988), 204; Ex Rollin & Feuardent (1873).