Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 96 14 May 2014
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KINGS of MACEDON. Demetrios I Poliorketes. 306-283 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 17.13 g, 1h). Salamis mint. Struck circa 300-295 BC. Nike, blowing trumpet and holding stylis, standing left on prow of galley left / Poseidon Pelagaios standing left, preparing to throw trident; HP monogram to left, labrys to right. Newell 18 (dies XV/– [unlisted rev. die]). VF, toned, a little off center, a few light marks.
Although Demetrios had a formidable army, his strength was his naval forces. His earliest novel coin types featured clear references to this fact. The obverse type features Nike blowing a trumpet upon a naval prow, while the reverse features Poseidon, Demetrios' patron god, who also appeared on the coinages of many of the cities he founded or conquered during his campaigns in Greece. These naval references also served to remind the viewer of Demetrios' famous victory over Ptolemy I's navy off Salamis in 306 BC, which secured the entirety of Cyprus for the Antigonids. This coinage was likely introduced shortly after he inherited the remnants of his father's realm following the latter's death at Ipsos in 301 BC.
Although Demetrios had a formidable army, his strength was his naval forces. His earliest novel coin types featured clear references to this fact. The obverse type features Nike blowing a trumpet upon a naval prow, while the reverse features Poseidon, Demetrios' patron god, who also appeared on the coinages of many of the cities he founded or conquered during his campaigns in Greece. These naval references also served to remind the viewer of Demetrios' famous victory over Ptolemy I's navy off Salamis in 306 BC, which secured the entirety of Cyprus for the Antigonids. This coinage was likely introduced shortly after he inherited the remnants of his father's realm following the latter's death at Ipsos in 301 BC.