Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 132 30-31 May 2022
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Demetrius Poliorcetes, 306 – 284
Tetradrachm Amphipolis, 291–290, AR 17.06 g. Diademed head r., with horn. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ – ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ Poseidon half draped, seated l. on a rock, holding aphlaston in r. hand and leaning with l. hand on trident; in l. field, Phrygian helmet. Newell 136. Meydancikkale 2583.
Rare. A magnificent portrait struck in high relief,
light iridescent tone and good extremely fine
Ex Gorny & Mosch sale 215, 2013, 805.
The coinage of adventurer-king Demetrius Poliorcetes was produced on a large scale at a number of mints throughout the Eastern Mediterranean and Asia Minor. He struck a full range of denominations in all metals, and in doing so employed the types of Alexander the Great and distinctive types of his own creation. Demetrius and his father, Antigonus, declared themselves kings in 306 after Demetrius' great naval victory over an Egyptian fleet near Salamis, by which he gained control of Cyprus. He spent the next year trying to capture Rhodes, but had to abandon his task prematurely when his father recalled him to Greece in 304 to campaign against the Macedonian King Cassander. Nonetheless, Demetrius' tactics had been innovative enough to earn him the epithet Poliorcetes ('the besieger'). In Greece, Demetrius enjoyed much success opposing Cassander. But by this time Cassander had joined Lysimachus and Seleucus in an effort to defeat Antigonus and Demetrius, who seemed determined to conquer the whole of Alexander's kingdom. Thus, Demetrius left Greece to join his father in Asia Minor, where they were defeated by the coalition in 301 at the Battle of Ipsus. Antigonus died, but Demetrius escaped to become a rogue commander. With a powerful fleet and a host of allies who remained loyal despite the monumental defeat, Demetrius was still a force to be reckoned with in Asia Minor. Upon learning of the death of Cassander in 297, he shifted his focus back to Greece. Demetrius besieged and took Athens and, after much effort, was proclaimed king of Macedon in 294. During the next six years he engaged in much warfare, but eventually lost his title of king in 288 when Macedon was invaded simultaneously by Lysimachus and Pyrrhus of Epirus. Thereafter, Demetrius lingered in Central Greece and the Peloponessus, rallying support and besieging Athens, which in 287 had established a democracy and revolted against his rule. As the siege dragged on without good results, Demetrius realised his options in Greece were vanishing, so he crossed into Asia Minor later in 287. There he enjoyed some limited success until he was defeated by Seleucus in the spring of 285 and was forced to surrender. Demetrius lived another two years as a captive, dying in the spring of 283 of what seems to have been excessive drinking.
Graded AU* Strike 5/5 Surface 4/5, NGC certification number 6159318-003.
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Tetradrachm Amphipolis, 291–290, AR 17.06 g. Diademed head r., with horn. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ – ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ Poseidon half draped, seated l. on a rock, holding aphlaston in r. hand and leaning with l. hand on trident; in l. field, Phrygian helmet. Newell 136. Meydancikkale 2583.
Rare. A magnificent portrait struck in high relief,
light iridescent tone and good extremely fine
Ex Gorny & Mosch sale 215, 2013, 805.
The coinage of adventurer-king Demetrius Poliorcetes was produced on a large scale at a number of mints throughout the Eastern Mediterranean and Asia Minor. He struck a full range of denominations in all metals, and in doing so employed the types of Alexander the Great and distinctive types of his own creation. Demetrius and his father, Antigonus, declared themselves kings in 306 after Demetrius' great naval victory over an Egyptian fleet near Salamis, by which he gained control of Cyprus. He spent the next year trying to capture Rhodes, but had to abandon his task prematurely when his father recalled him to Greece in 304 to campaign against the Macedonian King Cassander. Nonetheless, Demetrius' tactics had been innovative enough to earn him the epithet Poliorcetes ('the besieger'). In Greece, Demetrius enjoyed much success opposing Cassander. But by this time Cassander had joined Lysimachus and Seleucus in an effort to defeat Antigonus and Demetrius, who seemed determined to conquer the whole of Alexander's kingdom. Thus, Demetrius left Greece to join his father in Asia Minor, where they were defeated by the coalition in 301 at the Battle of Ipsus. Antigonus died, but Demetrius escaped to become a rogue commander. With a powerful fleet and a host of allies who remained loyal despite the monumental defeat, Demetrius was still a force to be reckoned with in Asia Minor. Upon learning of the death of Cassander in 297, he shifted his focus back to Greece. Demetrius besieged and took Athens and, after much effort, was proclaimed king of Macedon in 294. During the next six years he engaged in much warfare, but eventually lost his title of king in 288 when Macedon was invaded simultaneously by Lysimachus and Pyrrhus of Epirus. Thereafter, Demetrius lingered in Central Greece and the Peloponessus, rallying support and besieging Athens, which in 287 had established a democracy and revolted against his rule. As the siege dragged on without good results, Demetrius realised his options in Greece were vanishing, so he crossed into Asia Minor later in 287. There he enjoyed some limited success until he was defeated by Seleucus in the spring of 285 and was forced to surrender. Demetrius lived another two years as a captive, dying in the spring of 283 of what seems to have been excessive drinking.
Graded AU* Strike 5/5 Surface 4/5, NGC certification number 6159318-003.
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