Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 138 18-19 May 2023
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Thrace, Abdera.
Tetradrachm, magistrate Herodoto(s) circa 450-425, AR 14.92 g. Griffin with curved wing seated l., raising l. forepaw; below in l. field, cock standing l. Rev. EΠ H – PO – ΔO – TO around raised quadripartite incuse square; all within shallow incuse square. May, Abdera, 132a (this coin). AMNG II 50, 7 (this coin). SNG Spencer-Churchill 98 (this coin). Gillet 833 (this coin). BMC 67 (these dies). de Luynes 1748 (these dies).
Rare and in exceptional condition for the issue. Of superb style and struck on a very large
flan with a lovely old cabinet tone. Hairline flan crack at ten o'clock on obverse,
otherwise extremely fine / about extremely fine
Ex Sotheby 9 May 1904, Allatini, 196; Sotheby 3 February 1909, Benson, 449; Ars Classica VI, 1924, Bement, 836; Ars Classica XIV, 1926, 221; Ars-Classica XVI, 1929, Spencer-Churchil, 1067 and Leu-M&M 28 May 1974, Kunstfreund, 131 sales. From the P. Mathey collection and an Exceptional Collection assembled between the early 70s and late 90s. In mythology, Abdera was named after Abderus, a beloved companion of Heracles who perished after the hero captured the flesh-eating mares of Diomedes. In the historical record the site on the Thracian coast that would become Abdera was first settled in 654 B.C. by colonists from Clazomenae. That early effort failed, evidently because of conflicts with warlike Thracians. One hundred and ten years later, in 544, a new colonization effort was made by citizens of another Ionian city, Teos, who under the cover of night abandoned their homes rather than live under newly imposed Persian rule. When the Abderites began to produce coins, they chose to portray a griffin, as it was familiar from the coins of their mother-city. No doubt symbolically, the griffin faces left on issues of Abdera and faces right on those of Teos. Silver, fish, wine and grain were among the commodities that allowed Abdera to accumulate its astonishing wealth. The people of Abdera had a longstanding conflict with the Greeks on the nearby island of Thasos, as they competed for control of trade in the Thracian hinterland. It has been suggested that in 491 the Abderites fabricated a rumour that the Thasians were planning a revolt against the authority of Persia. Consequently, Darius forced the Thasians to tear down their walls and to deliver their ships to Abdera. In 463/2 Abdera again was able to profit from the misfortunes of the Thasians when their revolt against Athens was crushed. Abdera's wealth is evident not only from the large quantity of silver coins it produced and exported – often to the Egyptian delta – but also from the records of the Delian League. During the period 453 to 432 Abdera contributed annually about 15 talents to the league, suggesting its total payments may have been surpassed only by Aegina, Byzantium and Thasos.
Tetradrachm, magistrate Herodoto(s) circa 450-425, AR 14.92 g. Griffin with curved wing seated l., raising l. forepaw; below in l. field, cock standing l. Rev. EΠ H – PO – ΔO – TO around raised quadripartite incuse square; all within shallow incuse square. May, Abdera, 132a (this coin). AMNG II 50, 7 (this coin). SNG Spencer-Churchill 98 (this coin). Gillet 833 (this coin). BMC 67 (these dies). de Luynes 1748 (these dies).
Rare and in exceptional condition for the issue. Of superb style and struck on a very large
flan with a lovely old cabinet tone. Hairline flan crack at ten o'clock on obverse,
otherwise extremely fine / about extremely fine
Ex Sotheby 9 May 1904, Allatini, 196; Sotheby 3 February 1909, Benson, 449; Ars Classica VI, 1924, Bement, 836; Ars Classica XIV, 1926, 221; Ars-Classica XVI, 1929, Spencer-Churchil, 1067 and Leu-M&M 28 May 1974, Kunstfreund, 131 sales. From the P. Mathey collection and an Exceptional Collection assembled between the early 70s and late 90s. In mythology, Abdera was named after Abderus, a beloved companion of Heracles who perished after the hero captured the flesh-eating mares of Diomedes. In the historical record the site on the Thracian coast that would become Abdera was first settled in 654 B.C. by colonists from Clazomenae. That early effort failed, evidently because of conflicts with warlike Thracians. One hundred and ten years later, in 544, a new colonization effort was made by citizens of another Ionian city, Teos, who under the cover of night abandoned their homes rather than live under newly imposed Persian rule. When the Abderites began to produce coins, they chose to portray a griffin, as it was familiar from the coins of their mother-city. No doubt symbolically, the griffin faces left on issues of Abdera and faces right on those of Teos. Silver, fish, wine and grain were among the commodities that allowed Abdera to accumulate its astonishing wealth. The people of Abdera had a longstanding conflict with the Greeks on the nearby island of Thasos, as they competed for control of trade in the Thracian hinterland. It has been suggested that in 491 the Abderites fabricated a rumour that the Thasians were planning a revolt against the authority of Persia. Consequently, Darius forced the Thasians to tear down their walls and to deliver their ships to Abdera. In 463/2 Abdera again was able to profit from the misfortunes of the Thasians when their revolt against Athens was crushed. Abdera's wealth is evident not only from the large quantity of silver coins it produced and exported – often to the Egyptian delta – but also from the records of the Delian League. During the period 453 to 432 Abdera contributed annually about 15 talents to the league, suggesting its total payments may have been surpassed only by Aegina, Byzantium and Thasos.