Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XXV 22-23 Sep 2022
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Moesia, Kallatis AV Stater. In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Circa 220-225 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing triple-crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing to left, holding wreath and stylis; [A]ΛEΞANΔPOY to right, monogram in left field and below left wing tip. Price 916; SNG Berry 191; Müller -. 8.45g, 20mm, 12h.
Fleur De Coin; struck from dies by the hand of an accomplished engraver, in particular displaying a beautiful reverse Nike of elegant flowing style with dramatically elongated wings. Extremely Rare; only one other example on CoinArchives besides the two museum examples known to Price.
From the inventory of an American dealer;
Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXII, 7 October 2021, lot 278;
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Auction 120, 6 October 2020, lot 345.
Price (cf. pp. 176-180) suggests that these late 'Alexanders' are likely to represent "protection money paid to the Gauls, similar to that paid by Byzantium. Where Byzantium appears to have paid in posthumous Lysimachus staters, at Callatis, Mesembria and Istrus such payments appear to have led to the introduction of local Alexander coinage."
Polybius (4.46.3) relates the context of this tribute: "These Gauls had left their country with Brennus, and having survived the battle at Delphi and made their way to the Hellespont, instead of crossing to Asia, were captivated by the beauty of the district round Byzantium, and settled there. Then, having conquered the Thracians and erected Tyle into a capital, they placed the Byzantines in extreme danger. In their earlier attacks, made under the command of Comontorius their first king, the Byzantines always bought them off by presents amounting to three, or five, or sometimes even ten thousand gold pieces, on condition of their not devastating their territory: and at last were compelled to agree to pay them a yearly tribute of eighty talents."
Fleur De Coin; struck from dies by the hand of an accomplished engraver, in particular displaying a beautiful reverse Nike of elegant flowing style with dramatically elongated wings. Extremely Rare; only one other example on CoinArchives besides the two museum examples known to Price.
From the inventory of an American dealer;
Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXII, 7 October 2021, lot 278;
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Auction 120, 6 October 2020, lot 345.
Price (cf. pp. 176-180) suggests that these late 'Alexanders' are likely to represent "protection money paid to the Gauls, similar to that paid by Byzantium. Where Byzantium appears to have paid in posthumous Lysimachus staters, at Callatis, Mesembria and Istrus such payments appear to have led to the introduction of local Alexander coinage."
Polybius (4.46.3) relates the context of this tribute: "These Gauls had left their country with Brennus, and having survived the battle at Delphi and made their way to the Hellespont, instead of crossing to Asia, were captivated by the beauty of the district round Byzantium, and settled there. Then, having conquered the Thracians and erected Tyle into a capital, they placed the Byzantines in extreme danger. In their earlier attacks, made under the command of Comontorius their first king, the Byzantines always bought them off by presents amounting to three, or five, or sometimes even ten thousand gold pieces, on condition of their not devastating their territory: and at last were compelled to agree to pay them a yearly tribute of eighty talents."