Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 134 21 Nov 2022
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Greek Coins. Samos.
Tetradrachm, magistrate Hegesianax circa 400-365, AR 15.35 g. Lion's scalp. Rev. ΗΓΗΣΙΑΝΑΞ Forepart of bull r. wearing ornamental collar, truncation dotted; behind, olive branch. In lower r. field, ΣΑ and monogram within wreath. McClean 8407. Jameson 1529. Barron, Samos 127a (this coin illustrated).
In exceptional condition, undoubtedly the finest specimen in private hands. Perfectly
struck and centred on a very large flan and with excellent metal. Wonderful old
cabinet tone, virtually as struck and almost Fdc
Ex Naville VII, 1924, 1505; Ars Classica XIV, 1929, 377 and Cahn 75, 1932, Norddeutsche, 366 sales. Privatelypurchased from Baranowsky in 1934. From a Distinguished Swiss collection.
By the late sixth century BC, the island city of Samos had become famous as a great naval power, particularly under the leadership of the tyrant Polycrates. However, the expansion of the Persian Empire into western Asia Minor brought the city and its fleet under the control of the Great Kings, who used it in campaigns against Egypt (525 BC) and against the Greeks at the battle of Salamis (480 BC). Following the defeat of the Persian invasion of Greece, Samos became one of the founding members of the Delian League in order to protect itself from future domination, but the Samians soon found themselves subject to the Athenians, who assumed leadership of the League. The meddling of Athens in Samian affairs led to the city's revolt from the Delian League in 441/0 BC, but it was compelled to resume its membership following a lengthy siege and the razing of its walls. Samos subsequently remained a tributary ally of Athens for the duration of the Peloponnesian War. In 405 BC, as it became increasingly clear that Athens would lose the war, the democratic faction in Samos committed massacre against the oligarchic faction. The Athenians were so delighted by this act of violence that the democratic Samians were given honorary Athenian citizenship. Nevertheless, the victorious Spartan general Lysander arrived soon after, exiling the Samian democrats and restoring the oligarchs who had escaped the pervious slaughter. Samos remained a Spartan ally until 387 BC, when the city was reintegrated into the Persian Empire. Despite the official recognition of Samos and other Greek cities of western Asia Minor as belonging to the Great King, in 366/5 BC a revitalized Athens captured the city and sent its entire population into exile. The Samians were replaced by Athenian colonists. This tetradrachm was struck at Samos in the period between Lysander's restoration of the oligarchy and the exile of the Samians by the Athenians, but it features the same types that had been regularly employed for Samian tetradrachms since about 454/3 BC. It is distinguishable from the earlier issues through its use of the Chian-rather than the Samian or Attic-weight standard and the prominent signatures of magistrates which are usually written out in full.
Tetradrachm, magistrate Hegesianax circa 400-365, AR 15.35 g. Lion's scalp. Rev. ΗΓΗΣΙΑΝΑΞ Forepart of bull r. wearing ornamental collar, truncation dotted; behind, olive branch. In lower r. field, ΣΑ and monogram within wreath. McClean 8407. Jameson 1529. Barron, Samos 127a (this coin illustrated).
In exceptional condition, undoubtedly the finest specimen in private hands. Perfectly
struck and centred on a very large flan and with excellent metal. Wonderful old
cabinet tone, virtually as struck and almost Fdc
Ex Naville VII, 1924, 1505; Ars Classica XIV, 1929, 377 and Cahn 75, 1932, Norddeutsche, 366 sales. Privatelypurchased from Baranowsky in 1934. From a Distinguished Swiss collection.
By the late sixth century BC, the island city of Samos had become famous as a great naval power, particularly under the leadership of the tyrant Polycrates. However, the expansion of the Persian Empire into western Asia Minor brought the city and its fleet under the control of the Great Kings, who used it in campaigns against Egypt (525 BC) and against the Greeks at the battle of Salamis (480 BC). Following the defeat of the Persian invasion of Greece, Samos became one of the founding members of the Delian League in order to protect itself from future domination, but the Samians soon found themselves subject to the Athenians, who assumed leadership of the League. The meddling of Athens in Samian affairs led to the city's revolt from the Delian League in 441/0 BC, but it was compelled to resume its membership following a lengthy siege and the razing of its walls. Samos subsequently remained a tributary ally of Athens for the duration of the Peloponnesian War. In 405 BC, as it became increasingly clear that Athens would lose the war, the democratic faction in Samos committed massacre against the oligarchic faction. The Athenians were so delighted by this act of violence that the democratic Samians were given honorary Athenian citizenship. Nevertheless, the victorious Spartan general Lysander arrived soon after, exiling the Samian democrats and restoring the oligarchs who had escaped the pervious slaughter. Samos remained a Spartan ally until 387 BC, when the city was reintegrated into the Persian Empire. Despite the official recognition of Samos and other Greek cities of western Asia Minor as belonging to the Great King, in 366/5 BC a revitalized Athens captured the city and sent its entire population into exile. The Samians were replaced by Athenian colonists. This tetradrachm was struck at Samos in the period between Lysander's restoration of the oligarchy and the exile of the Samians by the Athenians, but it features the same types that had been regularly employed for Samian tetradrachms since about 454/3 BC. It is distinguishable from the earlier issues through its use of the Chian-rather than the Samian or Attic-weight standard and the prominent signatures of magistrates which are usually written out in full.