Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Live Auction 5 27 Sep 2022
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Thraco-Macedonian Tribes, Bisaltai AR Drachm. Circa 500-480 BC. Horse walking to right, bridle held by warrior wearing petasos and holding two spears; stork standing to right behind / Shallow quadripartite incuse square. AMNG III/2, 9 (same dies - 'oktobol'); Weber 1849 (same dies); cf. HPM 9-17; SNG ANS -; HGC 3.1, -. 4.24g, 19mm, 1h.
Near Very Fine; attractive old cabinet tone. Exceedingly Rare; no other examples on CoinArchives, seemingly one of just six known specimens.
From the Italo Vecchi Collection;
Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction IV, 30 September 2012, lot 1150;
Ex Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger, Auction 269, 23 September 2010, lot 2364 (hammer: EUR 440).
The Bisaltai tribe were of Thracian or Pelasgian origin and inhabited the region between the Axios and Strymon rivers (see Herodotus 7.115) in eastern Macedonia. A mountain range separates Bisaltai and Paeonia from Chalkidike which included Mount Dysoron, the location of the silver mines used by the Bisaltai which is reported to have later produced a talent of silver a day for Alexander I of Macedon (Herodotus 5.17). During the invasion of Greece by Xerxes in 480 BC the Bisaltai refused to assist the Persian army. Following the Persians' defeat and retreat, the area was overcome by Alexander I who, having previously submitted to Persian suzerainty, took advantage of the vacuum created by their retreat and extended his kingdom as far as the Strymon (Thucydides II.99).
Near Very Fine; attractive old cabinet tone. Exceedingly Rare; no other examples on CoinArchives, seemingly one of just six known specimens.
From the Italo Vecchi Collection;
Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction IV, 30 September 2012, lot 1150;
Ex Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger, Auction 269, 23 September 2010, lot 2364 (hammer: EUR 440).
The Bisaltai tribe were of Thracian or Pelasgian origin and inhabited the region between the Axios and Strymon rivers (see Herodotus 7.115) in eastern Macedonia. A mountain range separates Bisaltai and Paeonia from Chalkidike which included Mount Dysoron, the location of the silver mines used by the Bisaltai which is reported to have later produced a talent of silver a day for Alexander I of Macedon (Herodotus 5.17). During the invasion of Greece by Xerxes in 480 BC the Bisaltai refused to assist the Persian army. Following the Persians' defeat and retreat, the area was overcome by Alexander I who, having previously submitted to Persian suzerainty, took advantage of the vacuum created by their retreat and extended his kingdom as far as the Strymon (Thucydides II.99).