Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 133 21 Nov 2022
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Greek Coins. Argilus.
Stater circa 478-470, AR 13.48 g. Pegasus, with curled wing, walking r., raising his l. foreleg; in r. field, bunch of grapes. Rev. Irregular quadripartite incuse square. Liampi, Period V, Group A, 93 and pl. 13 (this coin). Gillet 857 (this coin). Hellénisme Primitif pl. 14, 8-12. cf. Traité I, p. 1241, no. 1814. cf. SNG ANS 756-7.
Apparently unique. A very interesting representation of excellent late Archaic style
struck on a very broad flan. Old cabinet tone and about extremely fine
Ex Leu-M&M 28 May 1974, Kunstfreund, 43; Leu 48, 1989, 131 and New York XXVII, 2012, Prospero, 275 sales.
The city of Argilus was an Ionian Greek settlement within the territory of the Bisaltai in Macedonia. It was almost certainly established for the purposes of trade with the surrounding Tharaco-Macedonian peoples and to gain access to locally-mined silver. Nothing is known of the city's history before 480 BC, when the great Persian army of Xerxes I passed by on its way to invade Greece. Following the defeat of the Persians at Salamis and Plataea and the withdrawal of their forces from Greece, Argilus became one of the founding members of the Delian League in 478 BC, but after this alliance developed into an Athenian empire, the city was forced to pay a high tribute due to its access to silver mines. The city's economic well-being was further injured by the Athenians when they successfully established a colony at Amphipolis, right on the doorstep of Argilus' territory. The disgruntled citizens of Argilus aided the Spartans in the capture of Amphipolis in 422 BC, but after this, nothing is heard of the city in the ancient sources until 357 BC, when both Argilus and Amphipolis were conquered by Philip II of Macedon. The present stater was struck at the end of Argilus' autonomous silver coinage, which is believed to have ceased after the entry of the city into the Delian League.
Stater circa 478-470, AR 13.48 g. Pegasus, with curled wing, walking r., raising his l. foreleg; in r. field, bunch of grapes. Rev. Irregular quadripartite incuse square. Liampi, Period V, Group A, 93 and pl. 13 (this coin). Gillet 857 (this coin). Hellénisme Primitif pl. 14, 8-12. cf. Traité I, p. 1241, no. 1814. cf. SNG ANS 756-7.
Apparently unique. A very interesting representation of excellent late Archaic style
struck on a very broad flan. Old cabinet tone and about extremely fine
Ex Leu-M&M 28 May 1974, Kunstfreund, 43; Leu 48, 1989, 131 and New York XXVII, 2012, Prospero, 275 sales.
The city of Argilus was an Ionian Greek settlement within the territory of the Bisaltai in Macedonia. It was almost certainly established for the purposes of trade with the surrounding Tharaco-Macedonian peoples and to gain access to locally-mined silver. Nothing is known of the city's history before 480 BC, when the great Persian army of Xerxes I passed by on its way to invade Greece. Following the defeat of the Persians at Salamis and Plataea and the withdrawal of their forces from Greece, Argilus became one of the founding members of the Delian League in 478 BC, but after this alliance developed into an Athenian empire, the city was forced to pay a high tribute due to its access to silver mines. The city's economic well-being was further injured by the Athenians when they successfully established a colony at Amphipolis, right on the doorstep of Argilus' territory. The disgruntled citizens of Argilus aided the Spartans in the capture of Amphipolis in 422 BC, but after this, nothing is heard of the city in the ancient sources until 357 BC, when both Argilus and Amphipolis were conquered by Philip II of Macedon. The present stater was struck at the end of Argilus' autonomous silver coinage, which is believed to have ceased after the entry of the city into the Delian League.