I'm very substantially behind posting/writing up new purchases but I'm going to attempt to return to a rhythm of Saturday posts, starting with older coins, like this New Style tetradrachm. Athens was once immensely powerful and independent, but its invincibility was ultimately disproved. It was conquered first by Sparta, then by Macedonia, and eventually by Rome. Athens' value was well understood, and it was allowed to remain a wealthy city and cradle of culture but was no longer a discrete power. The earlier “Owl” tetradrachms were the dominant international trade coinage for over three centuries, but as Athens changed hands, their coinage eventually changed as well, moving away from the archaic coins into a new stylized tetradrachm which carried over artistic elements from its predecessor. These new coins were produced on a large scale likely due to an influx in demand from Athens’ improving economy after it recovered the port of Delos in 166 BC. The new coinage didn’t become quite as ubiquitous as the early tetradrachms, but they have still been found throughout the Mediterranean and certainly circulated internationally. When Rome dominated most of Greece, they confiscated land and destroyed several cities, but Athens was left largely independent as the Romans appreciated it for its intellectual, cultural, and artistic value. The mintage of the “new style” tetradrachms began in 164 BC and continued on an annual basis up until Sulla’s capture of Athens in 86 BC, after which the coins were produced far less frequently until ultimately stopping around 40 BC. The new coinage paid homage to the earlier tetradrachms by carrying over the iconography of an obverse depicting Athena and a reverse featuring her owl. However, the fabric of the coin was changed considerably, thinning and broadening to a much wider diameter and becoming slightly lighter. This offered a larger space on which the artists could engrave more intricate designs and they certainly took advantage of the freedom. Athena is depicted with a triple-crested Attic helmet upon which the foreparts of a quadriga of horses are shown beneath a full flying Pegasus. The reverse now shows an owl standing on an amphora, a jug referring to Athens’ international olive oil trade, surrounded by an olive wreath in which various symbols and names are included to denote the mintage and origination of the emission. The first line of reverse text retains the archaic “AOE” denoting that the coins are “of the Athenians”. Athens remained a center of influence during its 500 years under Roman rule with numerous emperors supporting it financially and politically. Unfortunately, much of Athens was destroyed after being sacked by the Germanic "Heruli" tribe in 267 AD, and this marked the end of Athens’ reign as one of history’s most influential societies. Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. New Style Coinage, circa 154-153 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with vine tendril and Pegasos / Owl standing right, head facing, on amphora; AQE across, monograms flanking, caps of the Dioskouroi to right; all within wreath. Thompson 61 (this obv. die). 16.89g, 33mm, 1h. Beautifully toned, well centered on sound metal, Extremely Fine. Rare issue of the new Athenian style. Post your New Style tetradrachms!
Man, I love the new style Tets, and this one is absolutely beautiful with that toning. I'm almost embarrassed to show mine. Almost. This is the only one I have and it has the measles or pox. I got it as a bargain bin coin from HJB. ATHENS ATTICA AR Tetradrachm OBVERSE: Helmeted head of Athena right REVERSE: Owl standing right, head facing, on overturned amphora; to left, eagle standing right on thunderbolt; Gamma on amphora, ΗΡΑ in exergue; all within laurel wreath Struck at Athens Epigene-, Sosandros and Eume(nes)-, magistrates 127/26 BC 16.8g, 30mm Thompson 477a
My only contribution, at this time, would be my British Museum Electro-plate replica, which I'm sure no one really wishes to see again....so until sometime in the future, I'll have remain photo postless... AJ, Absolutely gorgeous coin!!! Bing, I'd take yours---GIVE IT TO ME!!!
Wow! Just when I think you can't out-do yourself AJ...you have to go and post a coin like that one. Absolutely stunning! I think what puts it over the top for me is the iridescent toning.
Great coin Joe. Based on your website you have been very busy lately so I look forward to future Saturdays.
Bing and I have the more common New Style type with magistrate names spelled out. In fact, two of the three magistrates on my first coin (the two named on the right of the owl) are the same as Bing's. Mine has Kallikrates to the left in place of Eumenes. Mine is so worn that the shop letter on the amphora is worn off. This is the high point of of the design. Compare this better one also worn on the amphora: http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1371460 My other one has a thunderbolt and three different names. Theofra Sota Peison .c. B.C. 150 is the listing I find for the type online. I do not own the Thompson book on these and doubt I will be getting any more of the coins. I would like to have an example of the less popular drachm of the series, however. Compare: http://numismatics.org/collection/1963.31.270
*boing!!* => wow AJ, that coin is absolutely awesome!! (another show-pony for your corral) ... I love the Pegasus on Athena's helmet
An absolutely stunning piece of ancient artistry. Not only is the grade superb but the style is of the highest quality.
Sadly no coin to post. I have nicked images of most of AJs coins to make into jigsaws which I do on a regular basis (daily). It is always exciting to find a new coin on his site.
Thanks everyone! This is a fantastic way to display a coin! If only auction houses did the same, there would be far fewer ways to mislead collectors by under-describing issues.
