Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XXV 22-23 Sep 2022
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Lokris, Lokri Opuntii AR Stater. Circa 370-360 BC. Wreathed head of Demeter to left, wearing pearl necklace and triple-pendant earring / Ajax, nude but for crested Corinthian helmet, advancing to right on rocky ground, holding sword and shield decorated with coiled serpent; round shield between his legs; ΟΠΟΝ-ΤΙΩΝ around. H&D Group 4, 56a (O7/R14 - this coin); BCD Lokris 15; BMC 7; SNG Copenhagen 47; HGC 4, 989. 12.27g, 23mm, 2h.
Good Extremely Fine; minor double strike to obv., otherwise a tremendous example, boasting beautiful iridescent toning and a spectacularly high relief reverse.
This coin published in J.M. Humphris & D. Delbridge, The Coinage of the Opountian Lokrians (London, 2014);
Ex collection of Dr. Hans Krähenbühl;
Ex Münzen & Medaillen AG Basel, FPL 235, August 1963, no. 10.
Ajax of Lokris (or Ajax 'the Lesser'), who is depicted on the reverse of this attractive type, led a fleet of forty ships from Lokris Opuntii against Troy in the Greeks' great war on that city. At Troy's fall, he was alleged by Odysseus to have violated a sanctuary of Athena by ravishing Cassandra, who had sought refuge there. He thus brought down the wrath of Athena upon himself and his countrymen: Ajax himself was wrecked and killed in a storm as he made his way home from the war, and the rest of the Opuntians reached home only with great difficulty. Nevertheless, they honoured their former leader annually by launching a ship fitted with black sails and laden with gifts, which they then set alight, and whenever the Lokrian army drew up for battle, one place was always left open for Ajax, whose spirit they believed would stand and fight with them.
Good Extremely Fine; minor double strike to obv., otherwise a tremendous example, boasting beautiful iridescent toning and a spectacularly high relief reverse.
This coin published in J.M. Humphris & D. Delbridge, The Coinage of the Opountian Lokrians (London, 2014);
Ex collection of Dr. Hans Krähenbühl;
Ex Münzen & Medaillen AG Basel, FPL 235, August 1963, no. 10.
Ajax of Lokris (or Ajax 'the Lesser'), who is depicted on the reverse of this attractive type, led a fleet of forty ships from Lokris Opuntii against Troy in the Greeks' great war on that city. At Troy's fall, he was alleged by Odysseus to have violated a sanctuary of Athena by ravishing Cassandra, who had sought refuge there. He thus brought down the wrath of Athena upon himself and his countrymen: Ajax himself was wrecked and killed in a storm as he made his way home from the war, and the rest of the Opuntians reached home only with great difficulty. Nevertheless, they honoured their former leader annually by launching a ship fitted with black sails and laden with gifts, which they then set alight, and whenever the Lokrian army drew up for battle, one place was always left open for Ajax, whose spirit they believed would stand and fight with them.