Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 133 21 Nov 2022
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Greek Coins. Euboia, Euboian League.
Stater circa 375-357, AR 12.00 g. Cow crouched l., with head r. Rev. EYB Diademed head of the nymph Euboia r., wearing a half-moon shaped earring. All within shallow incuse square. McClean 5703. Traité, pl. CXCVII, 18. W.P. Wallace, NNM 134, 1956, p. 137 and pl. IV, 1. Gulbenkian 506 (this reverse die). Gillet 916 (this coin). Jameson 1176 (this reverse die). BCD Euboia 1 (this reverse die).
Superb old cabinet tone, surface somewhat porous on reverse, otherwise good very fine
Ex Hirsch XIII, 1905, 1840; Rolin & Feuardent 9 June 1913, 205; Birkler & Waddell 2, 1980, 144 and New York XXVII,2012, Prospero, 362 sales. From the Charles Gillet collection.
The elongated island of Euboia, located off the coast of Thessaly, Boiotia, and Attica was believed to have been broken off of mainland Greece by a major earthquake. It was known as a good region for pasturing cattle as well as a strategic location. Movement from Thessaly to Central Greece was easier through Euboia than via the dangerous passes through the mountains thanks to a bridge connecting the island to Attica. Chalkis, Eretria, Histiaia, and Karystos, the four major cities of Euboia appear to have banded together to form a federal state known as the Euboian League. It is thought that the cities were influenced to establish the league at this time by their close alliance with Thebes and the Boiotian League. The Thebans strongly supported the creation of larger states-federal or otherwise- as a bulwark against the restoration of Spartan power after 371 BC, as in the case of Messenia and the Arkadian League. This first Euboian League is thought to have flourished while Theban hegemony remained strong in Greece, but came to be driven by pro-Athenian and pro-Theban factionalism as Theban power waned. By 357 BC, the league had disintegrated and individual Euboian cities became members of a new Athenian Naval League. It was subsequently restored in the 350s BC in an attempt to resist increasing Athenian influence over Euboia and its cities. This stater is a beautiful example of the federal coinage struck for the Theban-sponsored Euboian League. It features the head of the eponymous nymph Euboia. According to one mythological tradition she was rooted in the sea by Poseidon himself. The recumbent bull on the obverse is a pun on the name of the island. Euboia literally means "Rich in Cattle".
Stater circa 375-357, AR 12.00 g. Cow crouched l., with head r. Rev. EYB Diademed head of the nymph Euboia r., wearing a half-moon shaped earring. All within shallow incuse square. McClean 5703. Traité, pl. CXCVII, 18. W.P. Wallace, NNM 134, 1956, p. 137 and pl. IV, 1. Gulbenkian 506 (this reverse die). Gillet 916 (this coin). Jameson 1176 (this reverse die). BCD Euboia 1 (this reverse die).
Superb old cabinet tone, surface somewhat porous on reverse, otherwise good very fine
Ex Hirsch XIII, 1905, 1840; Rolin & Feuardent 9 June 1913, 205; Birkler & Waddell 2, 1980, 144 and New York XXVII,2012, Prospero, 362 sales. From the Charles Gillet collection.
The elongated island of Euboia, located off the coast of Thessaly, Boiotia, and Attica was believed to have been broken off of mainland Greece by a major earthquake. It was known as a good region for pasturing cattle as well as a strategic location. Movement from Thessaly to Central Greece was easier through Euboia than via the dangerous passes through the mountains thanks to a bridge connecting the island to Attica. Chalkis, Eretria, Histiaia, and Karystos, the four major cities of Euboia appear to have banded together to form a federal state known as the Euboian League. It is thought that the cities were influenced to establish the league at this time by their close alliance with Thebes and the Boiotian League. The Thebans strongly supported the creation of larger states-federal or otherwise- as a bulwark against the restoration of Spartan power after 371 BC, as in the case of Messenia and the Arkadian League. This first Euboian League is thought to have flourished while Theban hegemony remained strong in Greece, but came to be driven by pro-Athenian and pro-Theban factionalism as Theban power waned. By 357 BC, the league had disintegrated and individual Euboian cities became members of a new Athenian Naval League. It was subsequently restored in the 350s BC in an attempt to resist increasing Athenian influence over Euboia and its cities. This stater is a beautiful example of the federal coinage struck for the Theban-sponsored Euboian League. It features the head of the eponymous nymph Euboia. According to one mythological tradition she was rooted in the sea by Poseidon himself. The recumbent bull on the obverse is a pun on the name of the island. Euboia literally means "Rich in Cattle".