Nike, la dea della vittoria

[apollonia]

Divinità greca descritta in diversi miti come personificazione della Vittoria, Nike era figlia del titano Pallante e della ninfa oceanina Stige che gli generò anche Zelos (la Rivalità), Kratos (la Forza) e Bia (la Violenza).

Secondo il mito classico, Stige rispose per prima alla chiamata di Zeus per lottare contro i Titani portando con sè Nike e le sue sorelle da lui quando stava radunando gli alleati per la battaglia. Zeus nominò Nike condottiera del suo carro divino (un ruolo in cui Nike viene spesso ritratta nell'arte greca e classica) e chiamò lei e le sue sorelle le quattro sentinelle del suo trono. Per questo Rivalità, Vittoria, Potere e Forza risiedevano sempre presso Zeus.

Nike assunse così il ruolo di auriga divina in cui è spesso ritratta nell'arte greca classica, svolazzante sui campi di battaglia a premiare i vincitori con gloria e fama simboleggiate da una corona di foglie d’alloro. Il gesto di porre la corona d'alloro sulla testa del vincitore, chiunque egli fosse, rivela che la Nike sancisce la vittoria e il trionfo, ma non li procura.

L'iconografia la rappresenta sempre alata, con le ali sulle spalle o ai piedi, anche se Pausania ne cita statue senza ali. In età arcaica è avvolta in una lunga veste agitata dal vento, con il ginocchio flesso nella corsa, come la Nike di Delo, purtroppo mutila, di Archemos di Chio, del VI sec. a. C. Sembra che in origine questa statua avesse quattro ali alle spalle, due più grandi e due più piccole e altre due alle caviglie, arrotondate verso l’alto alla maniera fenicia, come nell’esemplare visibile al Museo Nazionale di Atene.

In età classica Nike diventò compagna di Atena, con cui fu identificata soprattutto ad Atene. Infatti nei rilievi del tempio dell’Acropoli la Nike parla con Atena e sulla stessa Acropoli è stato edificato fra il 430 e il 421 a. C. un tempietto ad Atena Nike sul lato ovest, presso i Propilei. Qui una statua di culto arcaica la rappresentava priva di ali in quanto gli Ateniesi gliele avevano tagliate perché la dea e, dunque, la vittoria, non si allontanasse mai più dalla loro città.

Atena e Nike compaiono sugli stateri di Alessandro Magno e su quelli della stessa tipologia coniati a suo nome dopo la morte. Anche i distateri e gli emistateri mantengono la stessa iconografia, mentre nei quarti e negli ottavi di statere rimane Atena al dritto ma il rovescio raffigura rispettivamente le armi di Eracle e un cantaro.

apollonia

[apollonia]

Sugli stateri di Alessandro Magno troviamo al dritto la testa di Atena con elmo corinzio e al rovescio la Nike con un serto d’alloro nella mano destra e la stylis (albero maestro delle navi), nella mano sinistra (foto dal Price).

La stylis è solitamente il simbolo di una vittoria navale e quindi l'immagine della Nike che regge l'albero maestro potrebbe alludere a un'impresa navale, forse ricordando la vittoria greca sull'impero persiano a Salamina nel 480 a. C. e collegando la vittoria di Alessandro a una più ampia narrazione vittoriosa. Altri invece la interpretano come un riferimento alle imprese navali dello stesso Alessandro come l'attraversamento dell'Ellesponto nel 334 a. C. o l'assedio di Tiro nel 332 a.C.

In alcune didascalie di stateri del Grande comparsi nelle aste la stylis è stata identificata come uno scettro e in altre come un bastone. Mah! Anzi, ah ah!

apollonia

[apollonia]

Un distatere di Alessandro “Hammered” a 130000 sterline britanniche (ca. 148000 euro)

ROMA NUMISMATICS, Auction XXV Day 1, 22-09-2022, Lot 269 Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III 'the Great' AV Distater.

Description

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III 'the Great' AV Distater. 'Amphipolis', circa 325-323 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing triple crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing to left, holding wreath in outstretched right hand and stylis over left shoulder; thunderbolt to left, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 163a (same dies); Müller 1; for the date, Troxell, Studies Group A, cf. p. 128 for date. 17.25g, 22mm, 8h.

Good Extremely Fine; well-centered and exceptionally well-preserved - an exquisite specimen. Extremely Rare; only one other example offered at auction in the past twenty years.
From a private collection in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Alexander's stunning conquest of the Persian Achaemenid Empire delivered into his hands a vast wealth of proportions so incredible that it was scarcely believable. At the time of the death of Alexander's father Philip II in 336 BC the Macedonian state was indebted to the sum of five hundred talents of silver. Yet less than five years later Alexander was the wealthiest man on the face of the earth and the Macedonian kingdom spanned some three thousand miles at its greatest length. The treasuries of Susa, Babylon and Persepolis rendered a treasure estimated at some one hundred and eighty thousand talents.
 

A significant quantity of the captured gold was sent back to Amphipolis where a part was used for the striking of the Alexandrine distaters, the heaviest gold coins the world had yet known. Valued at forty silver drachms, this new denomination meant that Alexander's discharged veteran soldiers could be paid out their one talent in 120 distaters. In practice, the relatively low output of gold distaters compared with the staters seems to suggest that perhaps they fulfilled a more ceremonial than practical role. Nevertheless, mercantile inscriptions from Amphipolis referring to big staters of Alexander (stateres megaloi) alongside regular staters in transactions show that they must have featured in commerce.
 

The iconic Athena-Nike design honours the goddess of wisdom and war at a point at which Alexander's great military exploits reached a pinnacle. The reverse image of Nike holding a ship's mast potentially alludes to a naval accomplishment, perhaps recalling the Greek victory over the Persian empire at Salamis in 480 BC and tying Alexander's own victory into a larger victorious narrative. However, others interpret it as a reference to Alexander's own naval exploits, such as the crossing of the Hellespont in 334 BC or the siege of Tyre in 332 BC.

apollonia

[apollonia]

Statere di Seleuco I Nicatore e Antioco I Sotere (regno congiunto, 294-281 a. C.) nei tipi di Alessandro Magno, standard ponderale indiano.

CNG Feature Auction 120, May 11, 2022

Est. $25,000. SOLD $70,000

SELEUKID EMPIRE. Seleukos I Nikator & Antiochos I Soter. Joint Reign, 294-281 BC. AV Stater (17mm, 7.09 g, 6h). In the types of Alexander III of Macedon. Indian standard. Aï Khanoum mint. Struck circa 284-280 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing hoop earring, necklace, and triple-crested Corinthian helmet adorned with a coiled serpent / ΣEΛEYKOY KAI ANTIOXOY BAΣIΛE[ΩN], Nike standing left, holding wreath in extended right hand, cradling stylis in left arm; in left field, Δ-in-circle above horned helmet left. CNG 117, lot 263 (same dies); otherwise, unpublished, but cf. SC 280.3a for a similar silver drachm also struck on the Indian standard. Lustrous, trace deposits, a few minor marks. EF. The second known.

In 294 BC, Seleukos I made his son, Antiochos I, co-ruler. At the time, his domains stretched from Asia Minor to India, and Seleukos had spent most of the preceding decade in the west, at first fighting against Antigonos I Monophthalmos and later consolidating his gains by founding a number of cities throughout the Levant. This concentration on the west resulted in a degradation of Seleukid authority in the east, which culminated in a nationalist revolt in Persis in 295 BC, which became the first province to secede from the empire. It was likely this event that led Seleukos to elevate his son, whose new remit was to govern the eastern territories as his father's viceroy. Over the next fifteen years, Antiochos reestablished Seleukid authority in Persis, and extended to the Upper Satrapies the policy of consolidation that his father implemented in the west.

During the coregency, many of the mints of the east began to strike coins in the name of Antiochos for at least some issues, while Seleukos's name was retained on others. However, at Aï Khanoum there is a multi-denominational series of silver coins struck on the lighter Indian standard that exceptionally depict the names of both kings (SC 279–282). The present stater, also struck on the Indian standard is from the only known issue of gold staters for this series, and from the mint of Aï Khanoum during the reign of Seleukos I. This Indian weight standard series is still shrouded in mystery. Its specific purpose has been long debated, but likely has to do with the intended area of circulation and recipient of this coinage; it was probably intended for use in trade that was flowing toward India. However, one question that has not been addressed well is: Why was this the only instance of a coinage with the names of both kings? Certainly, Seleukos's name would be instantly recognizable to an Indian recipient, but his name was already on the issues of Aï Khanoum; it is Antiochos's that was added. Perhaps it was necessary from a diplomatic perspective for promoting Antiochos's position, given that this was apparently a coinage specifically intended for trade outside the Empire? In any case, this is the only instance during Antiochos's viceroyalty where this occurred, and it also is an irrefutable statement confirming the relationship of the two kings, not as senior and junior partners, but as co-rulers.

apollonia

[apollonia]

Statere di Lisimaco nella tipologia degli stateri di Alessandro Magno.

Triton XXIII – Session One – Greek Coinage Part I Jan 14, 2020

Est. $10,000. Starting Bid: $6,000. SOLD $19,000

KINGS of THRACE, Macedonian. Lysimachos. 305-281 BC. AV Stater (19.5mm, 8.50 g, 1h). In the types of Alexander III of Macedon. Kolophon mint. Struck circa 299/8-297/6 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with serpent, single-pendant earring, and pearl necklace / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛYΣIMAXOY, Nike advancing left, holding wreath in extended right hand and cradling stylis in left arm; monogram to outer left; below left wing, forepart of lion left; K below right wing. Cf. Thompson 125 (drachm with these controls); Müller –; cf. HGC 3, 1742 photo (for mint and type); Anadol 2 (samed dies); Hunt IV 193 = Leu 7, 117 (same dies); Egger 46, lot 394 (same dies); Egger [20] (1908), lot 394 (same dies); Künker 326, lot 692 (same dies). Underlying luster, a few tiny marks. EF. Perfectly centered on a broad flan, and struck from dies of fine style in an early die state. Extremely rare issue, one of six published examples.

Ex Chaponnière & Firmenich SA 8 (5 July 2017), lot 16; Triton IV (5 December 2000), lot 193; Peus 348 (2 May 1996), lot 132; Peus 343 (26 April 1995), lot 115; Giessener Münzhandlung 60 (5 October 1992), lot 95.

Kolophon was exceptionally prolific in producing silver drachms for Lysimachos, but is one of only four mints that are known to have produced the very rare Alexander type gold in the name of Lysimachos. The present issue was first discovered in the Anadol hoard of 1895, and although Pridik noted only one example, much of the hoard was not recorded, and it is likely that most of the six known pieces actually derive from that hoard. In addition to this issue, another gold issue of Kolophon was recently discovered (LHS 102, lot 114), with the same control marks as the silver issues of Thompson 122 and 126. All of the six staters of this issue are struck from a single die pair of exquisite style, with devices of exceptional detail that appear to have been executed with great care, suggesting they are the product of a master engraver.

apollonia

[apollonia]

Statere di Mitridate III nei tipi degli stateri di Alessandro Magno.

Triton XXIII – Session One – Greek Coinage Part I, Jan 14, 2020

Starting Bid: $12,000. Est. $20,000. SOLD $30,000

DESCRIPTION

KINGS of PONTOS. Mithradates III. Circa 220-200 BC. AV Stater (17mm, 8.50 g, 12h). In the types of Alexander III of Macedon. Amisos mint. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with serpent and necklace / BAΣIΛEΩΣ MIΘPAΔATOY, Nike standing left, holding wreath in extended right hand and cradling stylis in left arm; to inner left, Σ above Π; K to inner right. Callataÿ, First, dies O2/R2, a and fig. 3 = Göbl, Antike 876 = SNG von Aulock 1 (this coin); HGC 7, 318; Alram 22 (this coin referenced). A few minor marks, trace deposits. Good VF. Extremely rare, one of two known staters for Mithridates III, the only one with these control marks.

From the Jonathan P. Rosen Collection. Ex Heritage 3048 (11 August 2016), lot 32037; Dr. Lawrence A. Adams Collection (Part III, Triton XIX, 6 January 2016), lot 2052; Sincona 10 (27 May 2013), lot 107; James & Sneja Velkov Collection (Vinchon, 24 November 1994), lot 51; Hans von Aulock Collection.

apollonia

[apollonia]

Statere di Cassandro in nome e nei tipi di Alessandro Magno

Triton XXIII – Session One – Greek Coinage Part I, Jan 14, 2020

Est. $5,000. Starting Bid: $3,000. SOLD $17,000

KINGS of MACEDON. Kassander. As Regent, 317-305 BC, or King, 305-298 BC. AV Stater (19.5mm, 8.61 g, 3h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Amphipolis mint. Struck circa 307-300 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent, and pearl necklace / ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟY, Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; in left field, trident head downward; monogram below left wing. Price 180 (same rev. die as illustration); Troxell, Ants, Issue 4; Athena Fund II 402 (this coin); Dewing 1116 (same rev. die). Lustrous, tiny mark and a little die wear on obverse. Superb EF.

From the collection of Professor David R. Beatty, C.M., O.B.E. Ex Triton V (15 January 2002), lot 1287; Athena Fund (Part II, Sotheby’s Zurich, 27 October 1993), lot 402; Numismatic Fine Arts XXX (8 December 1992), lot 52.

apollonia

[Arka]

Per me le più belle Nike coniate sono quelle di Olimpia...

Arka

Diligite iustitiam

[apollonia]

Certo, ma anche su monete del Grande ne trovi di leggiadre. Per esempio su questo tetradramma di Tarso proveniente dalla Tkalec di Zurigo dell’ottobre 2007, una delle prime aste alle quali ho partecipato.

apollonia

[Arka]

Molto bella, sono d'accordo. Anche alcune Nike sopra la quadriga nelle monete di Siracusa lo sono altrettanto. Tuttavia qui e a Siracusa la Nike è solo un elemento di contorno. La preferisco là dove rappresenta il soggetto principale come a Terina, per esempio, o come ad Olimpia. Quelle di Olimpia restano le mie preferite, anche perchè sono Nike pacifiche, che portano la corona al concorrente vincitore di una gara sportiva.

Arka

Diligite iustitiam