A Tetraobol of the Chalkidian League

This silver gem is a bit smaller than a standard 'good silver' denarius, perhaps 2/3 the weight or size. The artistry of the coin was just too much for me to ignore and so I went after it although it played havoc with my remaining budget.

Apollo is rendered as somewhat pensive and typically 'feminine', although others of this type display the deity as serious or stern and far more masculine. The 'lyre' is a consistent symbol of the league and the details of both obverse and reverse are boldly struck .

For those unfamiliar with the 'Chalkidian League', I offer the following synopsis:

"It was a federal state that existed on the Chalcidice peninsula, on the shores of the northwest Aegean Sea, from about 430 BC until it was destroyed by Philip II of Macedon in 348 BC." (see map)

"The actual form of the League is uncertain although it seems to have had a federal citizenship, common laws, foreign policy, coinage and military. There was a citizen assembly that also had judicial functions. It included most but not all the Euboean colonies of Chalcidice...."

AR Tetraobol of the Chalkidian League
Struck at Olynthus, 432-348 BC
2.36 grams, 14 mm; SNG ANS 528
Laureate head of Apollo right
Chitara (lyre-like instrument) within square,
XALKDION around--- (of the Chaldians?)

Please feel free to share any coin you may have of the Chalcidians or any at all of Apollo and the Chitara/lyre devices

 

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Nice!! ... man Mikey-Z, that's a sweet ol' silver winner!! (5th century BC is my favourite watering-hole)

Congrats on a fantastic coin-addition!!

 

Holy smokes its a really sharp coin - you should have warned us about the level of sharp details - we needed safety goggles.

 

Good score MZ!

 

Vey nice, crisp coin! Well done!!! Worth the budget bust!

 

Its a great coin, especially the portrait.

 

Cool rocking coin, wonder if you could play some good music on that chitara.

 

Beautiful!!!!!!

 

Thanks guys!!!

No one has anything comparable to post?? Apollo and/or Lyres??

 

man, i don't have any lyres...i wish i did. i have some indo-greek apollos, but here is one where he looks like a girl. little AE from lydia, the reverse is particular is much better than my pic. it's a club in wreath.

 

That's a gorgeous coin, Mikey! Apollo looks particularly feminine on these Chalkidian coins.

 

LYRE:

 

APOLLO: On my Roman Republic Denarii...

 

Chalkidian:

 

Wow! Stunning coin Mikey. Congrats!

 

Beautiful coin, Mikey! I really like the kithara on these Chalkidian issues. Why I don't have one yet is a mystery to me, but I sure would be pleased with one like yours.

 

Sestus, Thrace, AE 16
"after" 150 BC
Hermes & Lyre

 

Thrace, Abdera, AE16
400-350 BC
Griffin on club & Apollo



Aeolis, Gryneion, AE11
400-300 BC
Apollo & Mussel



Satraps of Caria, Pixodaros, AR Trihemiobol
341-335 BC
Apollo & Starlike pattern




Aeolis, Aegae, AE18
300-200 BC
Apollo & Goat Head




Campania, Cales, AE20
265-240 BC
Apollo & Man-Bull with star




M. Caecilius Q.f. Q.n. Metellus, AR Denarius
82-80 BC
Apollo & Shield with Elephant




C. Piso L.F. Frugi, AR Denarius
61 BC
Apollo & Horseman w. whip

 

Wonderful posts guys!!!

It seems @Alegandron and @stevex6 have a 'thing' for Apollo

Well, here's two more of mine with Apollo; a diobol from Pontica with the anchor/crab reverse and a hemidrachm from Bithynia with the war galley....