Eastern Greece and Beyond

Macrinus, 217 - 218 AD

AE22, 5.71 grams, Mysia, Parium Mint
Obverse: IMP C M OPE SEV MACRINVS, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Macrinus right.
Reverse: C G I H P, Capricorn right with cornucopia set on back and globe between forelegs.
SNG France 1502 // BMC 111

SELEUKID KINGS. Antiochos III ‘the Great’, 223-187 BC. Drachm (Silver, 20 mm, 4.24 g, 12 h), Antiochia on the Orontes, circa 204-197. Diademed head of Antiochos III to right. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ - ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ Apollo seated left on omphalos, holding arrow in his right hand and resting his left on grounded bow; to outer left, monogram. HGC 9, 452d. SC 1047.2a. Nearly extremely fine.

CILICIA. Tarsos. Tiribazos, satrap of Lydia, 388-380 BC. Obol (Silver, 9 mm, 0.77 g, 11 h). Baal seated right, holding scepter (?) in his right hand and eagle (?) in his left. Rev. 𐡕𐡓𐡆 ('trz' in Aramaic) Baal (?) standing right, nude but for chlamys, holding scepter in his right hand and eagle in his left. Göktürk 20. SNG Levante 67 var. (monogram on obverse). Traité II 1384 and pl. CXXXVII, 11. Very rare. Slightly granular and with minor marks*, otherwise,* very fine.
Ex Astarte XXIII, 28 October 2024, 40.

Mysia, Parion(?). AR Hemiobol, 0.30 g. - 5.65 mm. 5th century BC.

Obv.: Facing gorgoneion with protruding tongue.
Rev.: Stellate pattern within incuse square.
Ref.: Apparently unpublished in the standard references; Cf. Nomos, Obolos Web Auction 22 (2022), lot 287, (450 CHF); Numismatik Naumann, Auction 127 (2023), lot 274, (350€).
Among the finest of a very few known examples.
Extremely Rare!
Fine / VF.

IONIA MAGNESIA. Themistokles Satrap
AR-Trihemiobol, 464/459 BC; 1.14 g. Θ-E Bearded head of Themistokles/Hephaestus (?) with wreathed cap right//In incusum: ΘΕ surrounded by dotted border.
Nollé/Wenninger Th 3c; von Mosch 7 d (this example); Lathe Biosas -.
Of extreme rarity. Good, very fine. One of seven examples known.
Kuenker 416, lot 1222, october 2024
Roma Numismatics XVII, London 2019, no. 443.
Druckrey Collection

This is the only example known to us that shows the complete obverse with the monogram of Themistocles. Themistocles, victor of Salamis and savior of Greece, fell victim to the Athenian practice of ostracism in the late 70s of the 5th century BC; he was banished from the city and fled. He was eventually sentenced to death in absentia for high treason. Themistocles arrived at the court of the Persian king Artaxerxes I and gained his trust. Artaxerxes I subsequently granted him dominion over Lampsakos, Myoûs and Magnesia, where coins were minted bearing Themistocles’ monogram. The head on the obverse of our coin was interpreted by Cahn and Gerin as a portrait of Themistocles, but this was disputed by Johannes Nollé and Alois Wenniger (Münzen-Revue 9, 1996, p. 34 f.; SNR 75, 1996, p. 5 ff. esp. p. 18 ff.): Nollé and Wenniger argue that it must be the head of Hephaestus. On the other hand, Hans-Christoph von Mosch has recently argued that the head on the obverse should be interpreted as a portrait of Themistocles (see JNG 72, 2022, p. 13 ff. esp. p. 25 ff.). The discussion is still ongoing. Even if the identification of the head is not quite clear, the coin is one of the most interesting and historically significant coins from Asia Minor in the area of cultural tension between Greeks and Persians.

IONIA. Magnesia ad Maeandrum. Tetartemorion (circa 400-350 BC).
Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right.
Rev: MAH.
Bull butting right; maeander pattern below.
SNG Kayhan 399 var. (reverse legend).
Condition: Very fine.
Weight: 0.27 g.
Diameter: 6 mm.

CILICIA. Tarsos. Stater or Shekel (circa 410-385 BC).
Obv: Warrior on horse rearing right.
Rev: Hoplite kneeling right, holding shield and spear; all within dotted linear border within incuse square.
Casabonne Group F1; SNG BN 215-6; SNG Levante -.
Condition: Very fine.
Weight: 10,21 g.
Diameter: 22 mm.

PHOENICIA. Sidon. Trajan (98-117). Ae. Dated CY 227 (AD 117).
Obv: ΑΥΤΟ ΝΕΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΩ ΚΑΙ.
Laureate head right.
Rev: ΣΙΔΩΝΟΣ ΝΑΥΑΡΧΙΔΟΣ.
Cadmus advancing left on prow, looking back, pointing forward with his extended right hand, holding cloak about his waist; L ΖΚΣ (date) to left.
RPC III 3866.
Condition: About very fine.
Weight: 11.53 g.
Diameter: 23 mm.

PERSIA, Alexandrine Empire. Uncertain satraps of Babylon, circa 328-311 BC. Double Daric (Gold, 18 mm, 16.70 g). Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance to right, holding spear in his right hand and bow in his left; in field to left, Φ above Λ. Rev. Patterned rectangular incuse punch. BMC 3. Dewing 2676. Nicolet-Pierre 7. Traité II 761. The obverse struck slightly off center from a somewhat worn die*, otherwise,* very fine.

The Achaemenid Kings of Persia. Time of Xerxes II to Artaxerxes. Daric circa 420-375, BC 15 mm, 8.39 g. The Great King advancing r., holding bow and spear. Rev. Irregular incuse punch. Carradice 42. BMC 58. Dewing 2711.

KINGS of LYDIA. temp. Alyattes – Kroisos. Circa 620/10-550/39 BC. EL Trite – Third Stater (12.5mm, 4.69 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Sardes mint. Head of roaring lion right; sun with multiple rays on forehead / Two incuse squares. Weidauer Group XVI, 86–7; Kurth G24–5; cf. SNG Ashmolean 749–53. Minor scuffs and marks. Near VF.

PTOLEMAIC EGYPT. Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285/4-246 BC), with Arsinöe II, Ptolemy I, and Berenice I. AV tetradrachm (half-mnaieion) or pentekontadrachmon (50 drachm) (21mm, 13.81 gm, 12h). NGC Choice Fine 5/5 - 2/5, edge marks, marks. Alexandria, before August 272 BC. AΔEΛΦΩN, jugate busts right of Ptolemy II, diademed and draped, and Arsinöe II, diademed and veiled; Galatian shield decorated with thunderbolt behind, dotted border / ΘEΩN, jugate busts right of Ptolemy I, diademed and draped, and Berenice II, diademed and veiled; dotted border. CPE 314. Svoronos 604. A bright example of the iconic dynastic issue.