I tre fratelli olimpici ritratti sulle monete

[apollonia]

Poseidone su un bronzo siracusano (Hirsch 346).

GRIECHISCHE MÜNZEN, SIZILIEN, SYRAKUS.
AE-23 mm. 274-216. Zeit des Hieron II. Poseidonkopf mit Diadem l. Rs: Geschmückter Dreizack zwischen 2 Delphinen. SNG COP. vgl. 846. Grüne Patina. ss
Seit 5 Jahren in deutscher Sammlung. 

 

[apollonia]

Poseidone su una triemidramma di Bisanzio (HIRSCH 346).

GRIECHISCHE MÜNZEN, GRIECHISCHES MUTTERLAND, THRAKIEN, BYZANTION.
Trihemidrachme. Ca. 250-220. Demeterkopf r. mit Ährenkranz und Schleier. Rs: Poseidon sitzt r. auf Felsen, hält Aplustrum und Dreizack. Monogramme und Beamtenname. Schönert-Geiss 1026 ff. 5.43g, Schöne Tönung. Rs. Kratzer. fast vz
Aus englischer Sammlung.

 

[apollonia]

Poseidone a cavallo su un tetrobolo di Potidea (HIRSCH 346).

GRIECHISCHE MÜNZEN, GRIECHISCHES MUTTERLAND, MAKEDONIEN, POTIDAIA.
Tetrobol. 500-480. Poseidon Hippios reitet l. mit Dreizack. Unter dem Pferd Stern. Rs: Frauenkopf mit spitzer Kopfbedeckung r. in Linienquadrat und Quadratum incusum. SNG COP. -. SNG ANS -. SNG Ashmolean -. AMNG II 4. 2.50g, Hohes Relief. Schöne dunkle Tönung. R fast ss
Ex Hirsch 303, 2014, Los Nr. 2649.

 

[apollonia]

Poseidone in piedi col tridente su un tetradramma del Pakistan (HIRSCH 346).

GRIECHISCHE MÜNZEN, ASIEN, DIE SKYTHEN IN PAKISTAN 
AZES II. 35-5, Taxila Sirsukh. Tetradrachme. König reitet r. Rs: Poseidon steht r. mit Dreizack. Monogramme.
MIG 828a. 9.38g, Schöne Tönung. Min. korrodiert. fast vz
 

Ex Hirsch 266, 2010, Los Nr. 1840. Nach jüngerer Theorie handelt es sich bei Azes I. und Azes II. um den gleichen Herrscher.

 

[apollonia]

Zeus su un bronzo di Metaponto (Künker 133).

LUCANIA. METAPONT. 
Æs, 300/250 v. Chr.; 3,05 g. Zeuskopf r.//Zwei Ähren zwischen den Dioskuren. Johnston, Bronze Coinage of Metapontum 38; Rutter, Historia Numorum 1673.
Grüne Patina, sehr schön
 

From the Friedrich Popken Collection.

 

[apollonia]

Zeus Ammone su un decimo di statere di Cirene (CNG Triton XXII).

KYRENAICA, Kyrene. temp. Ophellas. Ptolemaic governor, first reign, circa 322-313 BC. AV Tenth Stater (7.5mm, 0.72 g, 8h). Sosis, magistrate. Head of Zeus-Ammon left / Upright thunderbolt; monogram (of magistrate) to left, star to right. Naville 225 (same dies); SNG Copenhagen –; BMC 224; Hermitage Sale II 1609; McClean 9947 = Consul Weber 4652. Good VF, some die rust. Rare. 

 

[apollonia]

Zeus Bremetes su uno statere della Battriana (CNG Triton XXII).

BAKTRIA, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Diodotos I Soter. Circa 255-235 BC. AV Stater (19mm, 8.33 g, 6h). In the name of Antiochos II of Syria. Mint A (near Aï Khanoum). Diademed head right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ down right, ANTIOXOY down left, Zeus Bremetes, seen from behind, advancing left, aegis draped over outstretched left arm, and brandishing thunderbolt in right hand; in inner left field, wreath above eagle standing left. Holt Series A, Group 8; Bopearachchi 1A; SC 630; HGC 9, 234 (Antiochos II). Near EF. Rare without the typical test cut. 


From the Menlo Park Collection, purchased from Freeman & Sear, 2002.

The attribution of the Antiochos on this stater has been the subject of much discussion. The name suggests one of the early Seleukid kings of that name, and attempts have been made to associate the Antiochos here with Antiochos II, who is named on the issues of Diodotos I. Jens Jakobsson (“Antiochus Nicator, the Third King of Baktria?”, NC 170 [2010], p. 25), while rightly arguing against Antiochos II as the person commemorated, offered no alternative. Brian Kritt, who recently has revisited the issue (New Discoveries in Bactrian Numismatics, Chapter 5), convincingly suggests Antiochos III as the mostly likely candidate. Antiochos III, whose historical epithet is Megas (the Great), conducted a vigorous series of campaigns in the East, including the subjugation of the Parthians, his victories in Bactria, including the capture of Aï Khanoum, and his subsequent campaigning in India (p. 80). Thus, Antiochos would have been a figure worthy of emulation and with whom Diodotos I would wish to be associated. 

 

[apollonia]

Zeus Bremetes su uno statere della Battriana di Diodoto II (CNG Triton XXII).

The History & Coinage of Baktria

BAKTRIA, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Diodotos II. Circa 235-225 BC. AV Stater (8.30 g, 6h). Mint A (near Aï Khanoum). Diademed head right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ down right, ΔIOΔOTOY down left, Zeus Bremetes, seen from behind, advancing left, brandishing aegis and thunderbolt; in inner left field, N above eagle standing left. Cf. Holt Series C, Group 2 (drachm); Kritt -; Bopearachchi -; SNG ANS -; Triton VII, 693 (same obv. die). Good VF, a few light field marks and minute traces of deposits, usual test cut in hair repaired. Very rare. SOLD AS IS.

 

Sale: Triton XIII, 4 January 2010, Lot: 249. Estimate $2000. Sold For $3000

In the early 3rd century BC, Baktria was a satrapy at the far eastern edge of the Seleukid Empire. A huge expanse of territory separated its main population centers from the Seleukid heartland to the west, in Syria and Babylonia. Even the major Seleukid city of Ekbatana was distant to facilitate Seleukid control of Baktria. In the aftermath of the death of the Seleukid founder, Seleukos I, the Empire began to fragment, and, by the 250s BC, the Seleukid satrap in Bactria, Diodotos I, either proclaimed himself, or was proclaimed, king of Baktria. The circumstances of the event are still unclear today. From the beginning of the Seleukid Empire, it was difficult for the royal administration to exert firm control over its more isolated regions in the east, and it seemed only a matter of time before it lost some of these satrapies. Revolts were not uncommon, nor were external threats, such as the Indian kingdoms just to the south-southwest of Baktria. Thus, it is possible that Diodotos was simply acclaimed king upon the event of a decisive victory over any number of enemies (a situation common in the later Roman Empire). Or, perhaps, he was made king to give the local government more authority over the local population. What is known is that Diodotos was not a Baktrian, but a Greek, so this was not a nativist movement by any means. Most of the court would also be composed of Greeks. However, from the time of Alexander, the local Greek rulers were encouraged to marry into the local aristocracy, so by the time of Diodotos, he and his court may have been quite welcome.

The new Baktrian Kingdom roughly corresponded to the area of modern Afghanistan. It had many natural barriers protecting it from external threats: deserts and mountains to the southwest, the sparsely populated Iranian plateau to the west and northwest, vast isolated steppes to the north, and the rugged Himalayan Mountains to the east. Thus, the only external threat, at that time, lay to the south, India. Nevertheless, the two regions were separated by the Hindu Kush, which proved difficult for an invading army from either side. These natural barriers, however, were unnecessary to prevent the Seleukids from attempting to recover its lost satrapy. The threat to Seleukid territory in Asia Minor demanded far more interest, and although Seleukos II attempted to reestablish control over his fragmented eastern lands circa 228 BC, his efforts were limited, and futile. With this threat resolved, the Diodotids were free to consolidate their control over Baktria.

A diverse coinage was issued from the very beginning of Diodotos I's reign, with a full range of denominations in all metals. Interestingly, the earliest of these coins bore the name of the Seleukid king, Antiochos II, who ruled at the time Diodotos broke from the Empire. The reason for continuing to issue coinage in the name of Antiochos is one of the enduring mysteries of the kingdom's coinage, made more puzzling for the fact that the obverse portrait clearly must be Diodotos, not Antiochos. While the artistic quality of the Diodotid coinage was very good, compared to other Hellenistic kingdoms of its day, the coinage of Euthydemos I stands out, with an astonishingly beautiful aesthetic. Clearly, some of the best Greek engravers were employed by his mints. The realism that is a high water mark of the early Hellenistic coinage is most exemplified by his issues, and this high standard was continued under his successors. The beauty of Euthydemos' coins stands in stark contrast to the difficulties of his reign, most notably the invasion of a significant force under the Seleukid king Antiochos III 'the Great.' This was the last and largest threat the new kingdom faced from its former ruler, and although initially defeated in battle at the river Arius, Euthydemos successfully resisted a three-year siege of his capital, Baktra. In the end, Antiochos made peace with Euthydemos, and officially recognized Baktria as an independent state.

With the end of the Seleukid threat, Baktria was poised to change from a consolidating phase into one of expansion. In the remaining years of Euthydemos, Baktria expanded northward, gaining control of Sogdiana and Ferghana, and also added some territory westward into the eastern Iranian plateau. Euthydemos' son, Demetrios I, however, turned the kingdom's attention to the rich lands of India, and led an army across the Hindu Kush around 180 BC. The formidable Indian Mauryan empire had been recently overthrown by the Sunga dynasty, and the situation became ripe for Baktrian conquest. Demetrios' invasion was extremely successful, and by 175 BC, northwestern India was largely in his hands. We now refer to this area as the 'Indo-Greek' region of the Baktrian kingdom (the area to the north of the Hindu Kush is known as the 'Greco-Baktrian' region). The new region also precipitated a major change in the kingdom's coinage. While the Greco-Baktrian region retained a Greek coinage, the 'Indo-Greek' region developed a coinage that synthesized Greek and traditional Indian coinage. Most notably, these coins were bilingual, with one side retaining Greek inscriptions, while the other was inscribed in the Indian Kharoshthi. The Indo-Greek coinage was struck on a lighter, Indian standard, and local bronze issues were minted in a square module, a traditional coinage shape in Indian coinage.

By the middle of the 2nd century BC, two developments had occurred that would have a significant effect on the future of the kingdom. First, the size of the kingdom, especially as it was separated into two regions by the Hindu Kush, became untenable under a single authority based in Baktra. Thus, a separate king was created to administer the Indo-Greek region in the south. Although originally subordinate to the king in Baktra, the Indo-Greek kings soon began to act independently, creating an internal threat to the stability of the entire kingdom. Second, massive nomadic invasions, primarily by the Yuezhi and Skythian tribes, began from the north. These invasions completely changed the landscape of Central Asia and northern India over the subsequent two centuries.

The rift between the two regions was split wide by the usurpation of Eukratides I in the Greco-Baktrian north circa 170 BC. The Euthydemid ruler Antimachos I was overthrown, and an invasion by the Indo-Greek branch of the royal family failed. Euktratides soon took a force across the Hindu Kush, and subdued most of the Indo-Greek lands. For a short period, Eukratides ruled over all the Baktrian domains, and his massive coinage clearly reflects his success and the costs involved. Eventually, though, an Indo-Greek king, Menander I, repulsed his forces which retreated back across the mountains, and the separation between the two kingdoms was solidified. At the same time, Eukratides was threatened by a Parthian invasion to his northwest. The Parthians, under one of their greatest kings, Mithradates I, quickly defeated the Baktrian forces, and captured all of the lands east of the Arius. One of Eukratides' successors, Eukratides II or Heliokles I, possibly in conjunction with a Seleukid advance into Parthia in the west, attempted to repel Mithradates, but failed miserably. By the time of the reign of Heliokles, the Greco-Baktrian kingdom was reduced to a small region around Baktra, but soon the seemingly never-ending wave of Skythian invasions totally overwhelmed them, ending Baktrian rule north of the Hindu Kush about 130 BC. The mountains helped the Indo-Greek kingdom survive a bit longer, but even they eventually fell to the invaders by the late 1st century BC.

 

[apollonia]

Zeus Eleutherios su un’emidramma di Siracusa (Bertolami Fine Arts 64).

Sicily, Syracuse, c. 339/8-334 BC. Æ Hemidrachm (24.5mm, 13.43g, 12h). Laureate head of Zeus Eleutherios r. R/ Upright thunderbolt; to r., eagle standing r. CNS II, 72; SNG ANS 477-88; HGC 2, 1440. Smoothing, EF. Lot sold as is, no return.

 

 

[apollonia]

Zeus Eleutherios su un AE Dilitron di Siracusa (Bertolami Fine Arts 64).

Sicily, Syracuse, c. 339/8-334 BC. Æ Dilitron (26mm, 18.82g, 11h). Laureate head of Zeus Eleutherios l. R/ Horse rearing l. CNS II, 80; SNG ANS 533-41; HGC 2, 1439. Some roughness, VF

[apollonia]

Zeus “inscatolato” (Heritage Auctions Sale #3072).

LESBOS. Mytilene. Ca. 377-326 BC. EL sixth stater or hecte (10mm, 2.54 gm, 11h). NGC Choice AU 3/5 - 4/5, Fine Style. Laureate head of Zeus right / Head of young Heracles right, wearing lion skin headdress, within linear square. Bodenstedt 103. Very scarce and seldom encountered variety.HID05401242017

 

[apollonia]

Zeus su un didramma di Oenoanda, in Licia (Heritage Auctions Sale #3072).

LYCIA. Oenoanda. After 188 BC. AR didrachm (22mm, 8.18 gm, 12h). NGC Choice XF 4/5 - 3/5. Dated year 3 (186/5 BC) Laureate head of Zeus right, lotus-tipped scepter over shoulder, B behind / Eagle with folded wings standing right on winged thunderbolt, Γ and grape bunch in right field. Ashton, NC 2005, 13bb. From the Jack and Judy Cowan Collection. Until about a decade ago, only a single coin of Oenoanda, the example in the British Museum, was known to exist. The discovery in the early 2000s of a significant group of didrachms brought many more examples to market and added significantly to our understanding of the coinage, revealing that at least three distinct issues, marked by a sequence of letters and symbols, were originally struck. The presence of the lotus-scepter over the shoulder of Zeus and the eagle-on-thunderbolt reverse motif both suggest a close affinity to the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. HID05401242017

 

[apollonia]

Statere d’oro Era/Poseidone con il piccolo Taras (The New York Sale, Auction XXVII).

The Prospero Collection of Ancient Greek Coins. ITALY. Calabria , Tarentum (c.344-338 B.C.), Gold Stater, 8.56g,. Head of Hera facing to right, her curling hair held in a stephane decorated with palmettes, a diaphanous veil is visible on both sides of her neck, small E behind, a small dolphin swimming downwards and TAPA before. Rev. TAPANTINΩN , Taras standing to right, raising his hands in supplication towards Poseidon, seated to left on a stool, wearing a himation over his lower limbs and holding a trident, K beneath stool, a star and ├ on right (E.S.G. Robinson, Ancient Greek Coins in the possession of William Harrison Woodward (privately printed, Oxford, 1928), no. 4 (this coin); Vlasto 1 (these dies); Vlasto, ‘Les monnaies d’or de Tarente’, JIAN II, 1899, p. 306, I; A.J. Evans, ‘The Artistic Engravers of Terina and the Signature of Evaenetos on its later Didrachm Dies’, NC 1912, p. 45; Head, BM Principal Coins, pl. 25, 7 (these dies); HN Italy 901 (these dies); Kraay - Hirmer pl. 109, 315, and colour plate X). Two small insignificant nicks on the obverse and one on the reverse edge, extremely fine and very rare, a superb example and one of the most beautiful designs to appear on an ancient Greek gold coin. This coin published in ‘Ancient Greek Coins in the possession of William Harrison Woodward’, E.S.G. Robinson (1928), p. 2, 4, illustrated on pl. I. Ex Sir Arthur J. Evans Collection Ex William Harrison Woodward Collection Ex Reverend Arnold Mallinson Collection, Spink Auction 39, London, 6 December 1984, lot 36 The obverse of this coin bears a very delicately engraved head of Hera, the wife of Zeus. On the reverse appears ‘K’, probably the initial of the artist responsible for the types of this beautiful coin. It is possible that this is the same artist who engraved beautiful dies, signed ‘Kal’, at Herakleia (see lot 46 for an example). The fascinating reverse type of the above coin has been given various historical interpretations, associating it with an appeal made by Tarentum around this time for aid to help control increasing pressure from the surrounding tribes of Lucanians and Messapians. Taras is shown appealing to his father Poseidon, and the parent city of Tarentum was Sparta, to whom they did appeal for help at this time. An alternative historical association could be the campaign of intervention by Alexander of Epirus, the uncle of Alexander the Great, undertaken after the Spartan one. Whatever the inspiration for the reverse type, the whole scene is a composition of great complexity and detail, and has been beautifully and finely engraved. The arrangement of the figures gives the viewer a genuine sense of realism and movement. Taras appears almost desperate in his appeal and Poseidon, gazing down upon Taras, is rendered with gentle and sympathetic body-language. This superb coin is a very interesting example of a mythological type that perhaps reflects the current historical events at the time of issue. US$ 70,000

[apollonia]

Zeus su una dramma (o triobolo) di Kromma, in Paflagonia (Baldwin's of St. James's |Auction 28).

Ancient Coins, Greek, Paphlagonia, Kromna, circa 340-300 BC, silver triobol or drachm, head of Zeus, rev. head of Hera, wt. 3.48gms. (GCV 3678), reverse off centre, toned good very fine.

 

 

[apollonia]

Zeus su un tetrobolo di Ainianes, in Tessaglia (CNG Mail Bid Sale 81).

THESSALY, Ainianes. Late 5th-early 4th centuries BC. AR Triobol (2.31 g, 11h). Laureate head of Zeus left / Warrior (Phemios), holding shield and cloak, wearing sword, preparing to throw javelin right. Liampi, Beitrag, group I, 1; Moustaka 146; SNG Copenhagen 1. Good VF, granular surfaces.
The Coinage of Thessaly
Although Thessaly was a fertile territory renowned for producing superior cavalry, its original social and political arrangement affected its subsequent situations. The population was divided into three groups, along lines similar to those of the Lakonians. The first group, the ruling Thessalians, were originally immigrant conquerers who controlled the majority of the fertile land. The second, the remaining indigenous population, although dependent on the ruling class and similar to the Lakedaimonian perioikoi, or free non-citizens, retained their original names, as well as seats on the Amphyctionic council. These were the Perrhaiboi, the Magnetes, the Achaioi, the Dolopes, and the the Malioi, all of whom made up Thessaly’s borders. The third, the πενέσται, or serfs, were, like the Lakonian helots, dependent on their masters, though their conditions were not nearly as harsh as those of their Lakonian counterparts. The remaining territory was divided into four regions - Thessaliotis, Pelasgiotis, Histiaiotis, and Phiotis - all nominally united under the rule of the tagos, a chief magistrate, apparently appointed at time of war. The regional cities - among them Larissa, Krannon, Magnesia, Pharsalos, and Pherai - each operated independently of one another under the control of local powerful families. Although Thessaly early on did actively try to expand its regional influence by attempting to come together as a league, the inter-civic rivalries of the main Thessalian cities and their leading families weakened this organization’s defensive capabilities against outside invaders, particularly Persia. As a result, some Thessalian cities Medized, while the Aleuadai, then the most powerful family and reputed by Herodotos to be “kings of Thessaly” (Her. 7.6), had actively counseled the Persian to invade Greece. Many Thessalians, however, urged for Greek assistance against Persia, and it was only after the Spartan defeat at Thermopylai, that the remaining cities of Thessaly too submitted to Persia.
Between the end of the Persian Wars and almost the end of the Peloponnesian War, many cities in Thessaly began striking their own coinage: many of the smaller cities struck either bronze coins only, or only silver fractions in addition to the bronze coins. Larissa was the only city in Thessaly to strike the larger silver staters and drachms in any regular quantity. At the same time, the Thessalian League, still in existence, also struck a very rare series of hemidrachms. Beginning sometime toward the end of the Peloponnesian War, the city of Pherai began to gain ascendancy through its tyrant, Lycophron, who had the support of Sparta and its king, Agesilaus. Lycophron’s successor, Jason (who may also have been his son), sought to expand the successes of his predecessor. Elected tagos of Thessaly in 374 BC, he established the so-called Thessalian League. Unlike its earlier version, which was essentially that loose confederation of the major Thessalian cities, this new league was Jason’s personal force. Comprising 8,000 cavalry and more than 20,000 infantry, the league was allied with the kingdom of Epeiros and, more importantly, the kingdom of Macedon. Consequently, the Thessalian League became the greatest Greek force in central Greece at the time and, following an alliance with Thebes, it became a threat to the power of Lakedaimon, Jason’s former supporter. War with Sparta was averted only after Jason was assassinated in 307 BC.
In the years immediately following Jason’s assassination, his brothers, Polydoros and Polyphron, attempted to wrest control of the league from one another. This infighting prompted the other Thessalian cities, Larrissa in particular, to apply for aid from Alexander II of Macedon. Although Alexander II successfully gained control of Larissa and several other Thessalian cities, he went back on his earlier promises and garrisoned them with Macedonian troops, thereby esta

 

[apollonia]

Zeus su uno statere d’argento di Metaponto (Roma Numismatics 8).

Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 333-330 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right, ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΟΣ before, Δ behind / Ear of barley with leaf to left, upon which Silenos crouches; META to right, [A]Δ below. Johnston class A, 2.1 (same dies); HN Italy 1557; SNG ANS 451 (same dies); SNG Lloyd 373 (same obv. die); SNG Copenhagen -; SNG München 988 (same obv. die); SNG Manchester 202 (same dies); Gillet Collection (photofile) 193. 7.86g, 21mm, 1h. Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare, far superior to the Gillet specimen, and among the finest specimens known of this issue which is very seldom found in anything but a heavily worn or corroded state. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 4, 27 February 1991, lot 15. Metapontion was among the first cities of Magna Graecia to issue coinage, and indeed long preceded its later rival Tarentum in this respect. The choice of the barley ear as the civic emblem is unusual in that the other cities all struck coinage displaying types relating to their foundation myths or principal cults. Metapontion's choice may well reflect a significant economic reliance on its major export, a hypothesis supported by the preponderance of Demeter portraits on its later coinage, a convention seemingly broken only in exceptional circumstances, such as the occasional Hygeia issue that was probably elicited by concern over pestilence, flooding or drought. The city's reliance on its agricultural exports made it particularly vulnerable to the increasing barbarian attacks in the fourth century that eventually caused Tarentum to request the assistance of the Epeirote king Alexander in driving the aggressive Lucani and other tribes back into the interior. It was this period of strife that caused the only significant variation in the coinage of Metapontion - the new demands placed on the city by the war aginst the Lucani and its support for Alexander of Epeiros' campaign are undoubtedly the cause of the sudden rise in output of the mint, as well as the hasty overstriking of Pegasi. It was at this time that militaristic types were introduced, engraved in double relief, depicting the helmeted portraits of the city's founder Leukippos, along with the deities Zeus, Athena 'Tharragoras', Apollo and Herakles - a fitting series of coinage for a Hellenic city threated by barbaric aggressors. Indeed it is not coincidental that the contemporary issues at Tarentum similarly allude to war, depicting Taras armed, the horseman armed, and sometimes accompanied by Nike. It is also probable that the appearance of the same signatures, notably KAL and API, represent a coordination of defence efforts at a federal level, rather than an artist's signature as is often suggested. The head of Zeus shown here is remarkably similar in style to that god's head which adorned the obverse of the issues which Alexander struck to pay his own troops, and also bears considerable similarity to the Zeus heads of Philip II of Macedon in much the same way that the Herakles stater resembles those of Alexander III 'the Great' to whom the Epeirote king was uncle through his sister Olympias. It is not hard to imagine that the notion of Greek civilisation waging a just war against a barbarian foe should have been readily espoused by the cities of Magna Graecia; as Alexander of Macedon campaigned in the East, so thus did Alexander of Epeiros in the West. The Epeirote king did not meet with the same success as his nephew however. At the Battle of Pandosia, the Greek phalanx was separated, surrounded and destroyed. In a famous passage of historical fiction, Livy narrates that as Alexander of Epeiros lay mortally wounded upon the field of battle he compared his fortunes to that of his illustrious nephew and said that the latter 'waged war against women'. Certainly, the Lucani were competent and determined fighters, and the Greek defeat at Pandosia marked the end of Greek colonisation and expansion in Italy; the Greek cities would increasingly find themselves under pressure from the Oscan tribes.

 

[apollonia]

Zeus su una dramma di Mindo, nella Caria (Roma Numismatics 2).

Caria, Myndos AR Drachm. Circa 2nd-1st Century BC. Theodoros, magistrate. Laureate head of Zeus right / Headdress of Isis on two grain-ears, thunderbolt below. SNG Keckman 236; BMC 6. 4.45g, 21mm, 12h.
Good Extremely Fine. A very good example struck on a particularly broad flan and very well preserved for the type.
 

Mylasa, the home city of Hekatomnos and the original capital of Caria, retained its importance throughout the period of the Hekatomnid satrapy despite the moving of the capital to Halikarnassos under Maussolos. Though the city was contested by the various successors of Alexander’s empire, the city enjoyed a period of brilliant prosperity that was brought to an abrupt end when it suffered great destruction and despoiliation when it was captured by Labienus during the Roman Civil War.

 

[apollonia]

Zeus su una dramma proveniente dalla Myndos Hoard, prodotta a cura dello stesso monetiere Theodoros dell’esemplare Roma Numismatics 2, ma con conî diversi (CNG 67).

CARIA, Myndos. Circa 2nd-1st century BC. AR Drachm (4.23 gm). Theodoros, magistrate. Laureate head of Zeus right / Headdress of Isis; star below, QEODWROS to left. Zabel & Meadows, "The 'Myndos' 1996 Hoard," CH IX, 77 (A27/P59 - this coin); SNG Helsinki 236 var. (thunderbolt); BMC Caria pg. 134, 6 var. (same); SNG Copenhagen -; SNG von Aulock -. EF. Rare, only two examples in the Myndos Hoard, otherwise unpublished with this magistrate and symbol combination. ($350)

 

[apollonia]

Sempre Zeus su un altro esemplare della dramma proveniente dalla Myndos Hoard (CNG Coin Shop 860030).

From the 1996 ‘Myndos’ Hoard

CARIA, Myndos. Mid 2nd century BC. AR Drachm (18mm, 3.91 g, 12h). Kallistratos, magistrate. Laureate head of Sarapis right / Headdress of Isis set on two grain ears; MYNΔIΩN to left, KAΛΛICTPAT[OC] ro right, winged thunderbolt below. Myndos 45 (A12/P34 – this coin); SNG Keckman -; SNG Copenhagen -. Good VF, toned, hairline flan crack.

Ex 1996 ‘Myndos’ Hoard (CH IX, 522).

 

[apollonia]

Mindo è un’antica città dorica della Caria vicina ad Alicarnasso, situata quasi a picco sul mare, di fronte all'isola di Calimno.

Mindo aveva un buon porto e notevoli fortificazioni tanto che poté resistere vittoriosamente a un tentativo di occupazione dei soldati di Alessandro Magno quando i Macedoni presero d’assedio Alicarnasso.

Come nota di cronaca, uno storico riporta che il vino coltivato nel distretto di Mindo era di ottima qualità e particolarmente indicato per la digestione.

 

 

[apollonia]

Zeus su un bronzo di Akragas (CNG Shop 814750).

SICILY, Akragas. Circa 338-287 BC. Æ 19mm (5.77 g, 11h). Laureate head of Zeus left / Eagle standing left on dead hare; Δ to right. CNS 116 R1; SNG ANS 1113-4. Good VF, dark green patina. Exceptional for issue. Rare.

 

[apollonia]

Zeus su un bronzo di Oiniades, in Acarnania, con Acheloo sul rovescio (Auktionshaus Christoph Gärtner 43).

Akarnanien - Städte: Oiniadai: Bronze 219-211 v. Chr. Av: Bärtiger Zeuskopf nach rechts, Rv: Flussgott Acheloos nach rechts, BMC 189.8, SNG Cop. 402, 6,15 g, schwarzgrüne Patina, sehr schön
[differenzbesteuert]

 

[apollonia]

Zeus con Eracle, il figlio prediletto, su un hekte di Mitilene (Gorny & Mosch 261).

MYTILENE. Hekte (2.57g). 332 v. Chr. Vs.: Kopf des bärtigen Zeus Meilichios n. r. Vor dem Mund eine Schlange. Rs.: Kopf des jugendlichen Herakles mit Löwenskalp n. r. in Linienquadrat. Bodenstedt 103a/a; SNG Aul. 1711; HGC 1029. R! Elektron!
Ex NAC (Numismatica Ars Classica) Auktion 59, Zürich 2011, 614.
Condition:  Vs. aus unsauberem Stempel, sonst vz

 

[apollonia]

Ade e Persefone in quadriga su un bronzo di Enna (Hirsch 348).

GRIECHISCHE MÜNZEN, SIZILIEN, ENNA.
AE-28 mm. 44-36. Verschleierter Demeterkopf l. Rs: Hades und Persephone in Quadriga r.
RPC 661 var. Dunkle Patina. R fast ss
Ex Sammlung R.P. Ex CNG 40, 1996, Los Nr. 732. Legende der Rs. z.T. retrograd.
 

[apollonia]

Zeus e consorte su una dramma della NAC 114.

Paphlagonia, Kroma. Drachm circa 340-300, AR 3.55 g. Laureate head of Zeus l. Rev. ΚΡΩΜΝ[Α] Turreted head of Hera l.; in l. field, PK in monogram and above, leaf. Recueil général, pl. 21, 23. Jameson 2156. SNG von Aulock 183.
Two lovely portraits and a light iridescent tone. Extremely fine

Ex Malter 72, 1997, 47 and Roma I, 2010, 59 sales.