Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 138 18-19 May 2023
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Locri Epizephyrii.
Tetradrachm, under Pyrrhus circa 278-276, AR 16.36. g. Head of Zeus Naios of Dodona l., wearing oak-wreath; below neck truncation, Θ and ΣΕ monogram. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ – ΠΥΡΡΟΥ Dione seated half to front on throne, holding transverse sceptre in r. hand and raising himation with l. over shoulder. BMC Epirus 6 (this obverse die). Kraay-Hirmer pl. 150, 472 (these dies). de Luynes 1898 (this obverse die). SNG Lloyd 656 var. (different monogram). Jameson 1127 (this obverse die). Gulbenkian 914 (this obverse die).
Very rare. A portrait of masterly style in the finest Hellenistic style and a lovely iridescent
tone. Hairline flan crack at eight o'clock on obverse, otherwise good very fine
From an Exceptional Collection assembled between the early 70s and late 90s.
Although the increasingly powerful Romans had been extending their influence into Magna Graecia for years, in 282 BC, they installed garrisons in the cities of Thurii, Locri and Rhegium. Fearing that Tarentum would be next, in 281 BC the Tarentines asked for military aid from mainland Greece. Pyrrhos, the king of Epeiros in northwestern Greece, heeded the call and began assembling a great army that arrived in southern Italy the following year. His force of 20,000 infantry, 3000 cavalry and 20 war elephants were an impressive sight and with it he was able to defeat the Romans and their allies at the Battle of Heraclea in 280 BC although many of his best troops were killed in the fighting. Thanks to this success, the Roman garrison was expelled from Locri and the Locrians joined Pyrrhos in opposition to Rome. Although Pyrrhos offered peace terms to the Romans, these were refused, and the Pyrrhic War continued in Italy. In 279 BC, Pyrrhos faced the Romans again at the Battle of Asculum. This was also a defeat for the Romans, but it cost Pyrrhos so many of his experienced officers that he famously quipped, "If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined." Unsure of how best to proceed in the aftermath of this first pyrrhic victory, Pyrrhos then decided to answer a request from Syracuse to aid in driving the Carthaginians out of Sicily in the hopes of carving out a Sicilian kingdom for himself and tapping the wealth of the island for renewing the war against the Romans in Italy. During his Sicilian adventure, which lasted from 278 to 275 BC, Pyrrhos installed garrisons in many of the cities of Magna Graecia in order to hold them against the Romans during his absence. Locri was one of the cities to receive a garrison. Unfortunately, as Pyrrhos' absence in Sicily dragged on, the garrison at Locri became unruly and began to abuse its Locrian hosts. This behaviour went on for some time until the Locrians finally had enough and expelled the garrison in a popular uprising. When Pyrrhos finally returned in 275 BC and learned what had happened, he was furious and punished the city by imposing a heavy payment of tribute and by plundering the wealth of the Locrian temple of Persephone. The present coin is believed to have been struck at Locri to pay the tribute to Pyrrhos on this occasion and may perhaps even have been produced from silver stored in the temple. Unlike many other coinages of Magna Graecia and Sicily associated with financing the wars of Pyrrhos, the Locrian series has a strongly Epeirote character. The obverse depicts Zeus Naios, the chief deity of the oracular shrine at Dodona in Epeiros, while the reverse features Dione, the god's consort. The issue also explicitly names King Pyrrhos as the issuing authority. After an inconclusive battle with the Romans at Beneventum in 275 BC, it was clear that Pyrrhos had worn out his welcome in Magna Graecia and the king decided to return to Epeiros laden with the wealth of Locri. Unfortunately, on the return voyage storms destroyed many of his ships. It was determined that this great misfortune was caused by the wrath of the gods who were punishing him for the impiety of plundering the temple of Persephone. In an effort to set things right and prevent further misfortune, Pyrrhos subsequently returned what he had carried off from Locri.
Tetradrachm, under Pyrrhus circa 278-276, AR 16.36. g. Head of Zeus Naios of Dodona l., wearing oak-wreath; below neck truncation, Θ and ΣΕ monogram. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ – ΠΥΡΡΟΥ Dione seated half to front on throne, holding transverse sceptre in r. hand and raising himation with l. over shoulder. BMC Epirus 6 (this obverse die). Kraay-Hirmer pl. 150, 472 (these dies). de Luynes 1898 (this obverse die). SNG Lloyd 656 var. (different monogram). Jameson 1127 (this obverse die). Gulbenkian 914 (this obverse die).
Very rare. A portrait of masterly style in the finest Hellenistic style and a lovely iridescent
tone. Hairline flan crack at eight o'clock on obverse, otherwise good very fine
From an Exceptional Collection assembled between the early 70s and late 90s.
Although the increasingly powerful Romans had been extending their influence into Magna Graecia for years, in 282 BC, they installed garrisons in the cities of Thurii, Locri and Rhegium. Fearing that Tarentum would be next, in 281 BC the Tarentines asked for military aid from mainland Greece. Pyrrhos, the king of Epeiros in northwestern Greece, heeded the call and began assembling a great army that arrived in southern Italy the following year. His force of 20,000 infantry, 3000 cavalry and 20 war elephants were an impressive sight and with it he was able to defeat the Romans and their allies at the Battle of Heraclea in 280 BC although many of his best troops were killed in the fighting. Thanks to this success, the Roman garrison was expelled from Locri and the Locrians joined Pyrrhos in opposition to Rome. Although Pyrrhos offered peace terms to the Romans, these were refused, and the Pyrrhic War continued in Italy. In 279 BC, Pyrrhos faced the Romans again at the Battle of Asculum. This was also a defeat for the Romans, but it cost Pyrrhos so many of his experienced officers that he famously quipped, "If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined." Unsure of how best to proceed in the aftermath of this first pyrrhic victory, Pyrrhos then decided to answer a request from Syracuse to aid in driving the Carthaginians out of Sicily in the hopes of carving out a Sicilian kingdom for himself and tapping the wealth of the island for renewing the war against the Romans in Italy. During his Sicilian adventure, which lasted from 278 to 275 BC, Pyrrhos installed garrisons in many of the cities of Magna Graecia in order to hold them against the Romans during his absence. Locri was one of the cities to receive a garrison. Unfortunately, as Pyrrhos' absence in Sicily dragged on, the garrison at Locri became unruly and began to abuse its Locrian hosts. This behaviour went on for some time until the Locrians finally had enough and expelled the garrison in a popular uprising. When Pyrrhos finally returned in 275 BC and learned what had happened, he was furious and punished the city by imposing a heavy payment of tribute and by plundering the wealth of the Locrian temple of Persephone. The present coin is believed to have been struck at Locri to pay the tribute to Pyrrhos on this occasion and may perhaps even have been produced from silver stored in the temple. Unlike many other coinages of Magna Graecia and Sicily associated with financing the wars of Pyrrhos, the Locrian series has a strongly Epeirote character. The obverse depicts Zeus Naios, the chief deity of the oracular shrine at Dodona in Epeiros, while the reverse features Dione, the god's consort. The issue also explicitly names King Pyrrhos as the issuing authority. After an inconclusive battle with the Romans at Beneventum in 275 BC, it was clear that Pyrrhos had worn out his welcome in Magna Graecia and the king decided to return to Epeiros laden with the wealth of Locri. Unfortunately, on the return voyage storms destroyed many of his ships. It was determined that this great misfortune was caused by the wrath of the gods who were punishing him for the impiety of plundering the temple of Persephone. In an effort to set things right and prevent further misfortune, Pyrrhos subsequently returned what he had carried off from Locri.