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Akragas Tetradrachm.....Not Quite the Holy Grail of Ancients but.....
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<p>[QUOTE="1934 Wreath Crown, post: 3715542, member: 76965"]I’m not a knowledgeable ancients collector as many on this site already know but from time to time I cross over to the dark side and I think I was just lucky today. My intended bid was outbid by a lonnngg way and then I checked.....I had inadvertently added another digit to my bid amount making it a 6 figure sum....stupid...YES!!!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I'm so grateful all the other bidders had their wits about them and had not put in ridiculously high bids otherwise I'd certainly be in a spot of bother. My excuse was that it was 6AM here and unfortunately due to a minor crisis, I had only managed to get 3 hours sleep at night <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie104" alt=":yawn:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie104" alt=":yawn:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. End result.....I got the coin.....</p><p><br /></p><p>I had done some brief research prior to bidding, of course, and I'm aware these coins are highly sought after, not found easily or plentiful. So if I have to sell some bullion or even some lesser tetradrachms or denarii, I think this is something worth keeping for many years.</p><p><br /></p><p>I realise it is not the famed decadrachm but I found this as a write-up on an identical tet:</p><p><br /></p><p>'Seltman, in his article 'The Engravers of the Akragantine Decadrachms' (NC 1948), places the issue of this superb tetradrachm in 411 BC, immediately prior to the issuance of the famous decadrachms of the same city, widely regarded as among the most beautiful coins ever produced. Interestingly, while he attributes the decadrachm dies to the engravers Myron (obverse) and Polykrates (reverse), who had also engraved a run of tetradrachm dies after c. 413 BC, Seltman assigns the dies for this tetradrachm issue to a 'lesser engraver' he rather derisively calls 'the Trier'. We believe Seltman's eye at least partially fails him here: While the two eagles on the reverse certainly lack the elegance found on the decadrachms, the obverse chariot, with its lively rearing horses, the foremost looking back at the charioteer, is clearly a precursor to the magnificent 'flying chariot' on the decadrachms, and is likely the work of the same hand. The arrangement of the horses' heads on this tetradrachm die exactly mirrors that of the decadrachm dies, and the way in which the fore-hooves of the horses seem to lift off the ground line, as though the horse team and chariot are taking flight, again shows a strong affinity to the decadrachm. Finally, the presence of an upside-down crab as a control mark on both denominations strongly points to the same engraver being responsible for all the dies in question'</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Akragas</b> was a wealthy and powerful Greek state on the southern coast of Sicily, second only to Syracuse in importance. The city was famous for its lavish building projects, proudly displaying its wealth in the form of numerous massive temples, many of which still stand today.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Seller's photos and description:</b></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Sicily, Akragas c. 413-406 BC AR Tetradrachm (16.98 gms) (NGC XF 4/5 and 5/5 Fine Style)</b></p><p>Female charioteer driving fast quadriga right, her robes billowing behind her, Nike above flying left to crown driver, splayed downwards crab in exergue; Reverse: Two eagles feeding on downed hare on rocks, near one with its head raised and one down.</p><p><br /></p><p>Well centered on compact planchet leaving some of the borders and legends off flan. Very nice detail with no doubling otherwise and strong luster in fields. A fantastic example of this very rare and dramatic type.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]996008[/ATTACH] </p><p>[ATTACH=full]996009[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>I know it's not the Holy Grail of Ancient coins but it's not too shabby either, I feel<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="1934 Wreath Crown, post: 3715542, member: 76965"]I’m not a knowledgeable ancients collector as many on this site already know but from time to time I cross over to the dark side and I think I was just lucky today. My intended bid was outbid by a lonnngg way and then I checked.....I had inadvertently added another digit to my bid amount making it a 6 figure sum....stupid...YES!!! I'm so grateful all the other bidders had their wits about them and had not put in ridiculously high bids otherwise I'd certainly be in a spot of bother. My excuse was that it was 6AM here and unfortunately due to a minor crisis, I had only managed to get 3 hours sleep at night :yawn::yawn:. End result.....I got the coin..... I had done some brief research prior to bidding, of course, and I'm aware these coins are highly sought after, not found easily or plentiful. So if I have to sell some bullion or even some lesser tetradrachms or denarii, I think this is something worth keeping for many years. I realise it is not the famed decadrachm but I found this as a write-up on an identical tet: 'Seltman, in his article 'The Engravers of the Akragantine Decadrachms' (NC 1948), places the issue of this superb tetradrachm in 411 BC, immediately prior to the issuance of the famous decadrachms of the same city, widely regarded as among the most beautiful coins ever produced. Interestingly, while he attributes the decadrachm dies to the engravers Myron (obverse) and Polykrates (reverse), who had also engraved a run of tetradrachm dies after c. 413 BC, Seltman assigns the dies for this tetradrachm issue to a 'lesser engraver' he rather derisively calls 'the Trier'. We believe Seltman's eye at least partially fails him here: While the two eagles on the reverse certainly lack the elegance found on the decadrachms, the obverse chariot, with its lively rearing horses, the foremost looking back at the charioteer, is clearly a precursor to the magnificent 'flying chariot' on the decadrachms, and is likely the work of the same hand. The arrangement of the horses' heads on this tetradrachm die exactly mirrors that of the decadrachm dies, and the way in which the fore-hooves of the horses seem to lift off the ground line, as though the horse team and chariot are taking flight, again shows a strong affinity to the decadrachm. Finally, the presence of an upside-down crab as a control mark on both denominations strongly points to the same engraver being responsible for all the dies in question' [B]Akragas[/B] was a wealthy and powerful Greek state on the southern coast of Sicily, second only to Syracuse in importance. The city was famous for its lavish building projects, proudly displaying its wealth in the form of numerous massive temples, many of which still stand today. [B]Seller's photos and description:[/B] [B]Sicily, Akragas c. 413-406 BC AR Tetradrachm (16.98 gms) (NGC XF 4/5 and 5/5 Fine Style)[/B] Female charioteer driving fast quadriga right, her robes billowing behind her, Nike above flying left to crown driver, splayed downwards crab in exergue; Reverse: Two eagles feeding on downed hare on rocks, near one with its head raised and one down. Well centered on compact planchet leaving some of the borders and legends off flan. Very nice detail with no doubling otherwise and strong luster in fields. A fantastic example of this very rare and dramatic type. [ATTACH=full]996008[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]996009[/ATTACH] I know it's not the Holy Grail of Ancient coins but it's not too shabby either, I feel;)[/QUOTE]
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Akragas Tetradrachm.....Not Quite the Holy Grail of Ancients but.....
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