| Countermarked Greek Coins |  |
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| Athens, Greece, Old Style Tetradrachm, 449 - 413 B.C. |   | The old-style tetradrachm of Athens is famous for its almond shaped eye, archaic smile and charming owl reverse. Around 480 B.C. a wreath of olive leaves and a decorative scroll were added to Athena's helmet. On the reverse a crescent moon was added.
During the period 449 - 413 B.C. huge quantities of tetradrachms were minted to finance grandiose building projects such as the Parthenon and to cover the costs of the Peloponnesian War. |
| SH64571. Silver tetradrachm, SNG Cop 31 ff., SGCV I 2526, VF, countermark on reverse, weight 17.008 g, maximum diameter 25.3 mm, die axis 270o, Athens mint, 449 - 413 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right, almond shaped eye, crested helmet with olive leaves and floral scroll, wire necklace, round earring, hair in parallel curves; reverse ΑΘΕ right, owl standing right, head facing, erect in posture, olive sprig and crescent left, all within incuse square; $900.00 (€693.00) |
| Phaselis, Lycia, 208 - 207 B.C., In the Name of Alexander the Great |  | Phaselis was under Ptolemaic control from 209 to 197 B.C., when Antiochus III took control. Antiochus III formally took possession of the Egyptian territories in Anatolia through the Peace of Lysimachia in 195. Despite the vicissitudes of the area, Phaselis seems to have retained significant autonomy and struck Alexander type tetradrachms with remarkable continuity from 218 - 185 B.C. The series ended shortly after the conclusion of the Apamea treaty, when Phaselis and the other cities of Lycia were handed over to the Kingdom of Rhodes. From 190 to 160 B.C. it remained under Rhodeian hegemony. After 160 B.C. Phaselis was absorbed into the Lycian confederacy under Roman rule. In the 1st century B.C., the city was taken over by the pirate Zekenites for a period until his defeat by the Romans. |
| SH59441. Silver tetradrachm, civic coinage struck under Ptolemaic hegemony, countermarked under Seleukid hegemony; Price 2850, Cohen DCA 315, Müller Alexander -, VF/F, weight 16.117 g, maximum diameter 33.9 mm, die axis 0o, Lycia, Phaselis mint, 208 - 207 B.C.; obverse Herakles' head right, clad in Nemean lion scalp headdress tied at neck; Seleukid countermark: anchor in an oval punch; reverse ΑΛΕΞΑΝ∆ΡΟΥ, Zeus enthroned left, right leg drawn back, eagle extended in right, long scepter vertical behind in left, ΙΑ (year 11) over Φ left, O beneath throne; $375.00 (€288.75) |
| Aspendus, Pamphylia, 195 - 194 B.C., In the Name of Alexander the Great |  | After Alexander took Perga peacefully, Aspendos sent envoys to offer surrender if he would not take the taxes and horses formerly paid as tribute to the Persian king. Agreeing, Alexander went on to Side, leaving a garrison behind. When he learned they had failed to ratify the agreement their own evnvoys had proposed, Alexander marched to the city. The Aspendians retreated to their acropolis and again sent envoys to sue for peace. This time, however, they had to agree to harsh terms - they would host a Macedonian garrison and pay 100 gold talents and 4.000 horses annually.
When this coin was struck, Antiochos III the Great had recovered central Asia Minor for the Seleukid Kingdom. Aspendos accepted Seleukid authority in 197 B.C. The city surrendered to Rome in 190 B.C. |
| SH59525. Silver tetradrachm, Price 2897, SNG Cop 771, Cohen DCA 312, VF, weight 16.722 g, maximum diameter 31.3 mm, die axis 0o, Aspendos mint, 195 - 194 B.C.; obverse Herakles' head right, clad in Nemean lion scalp headdress tied at neck; Seleukid countermark: anchor in roughly retangular punch; reverse Zeus enthroned left, eagle in right, long scepter vertical behind in left, ΑΣ / ΙΗ (year 18 Era of Aspendos) left; $375.00 (€288.75) |
| Aspendus, Pamphylia, 191 - 190 B.C., In the Name of Alexander the Great |  | After Alexander took Perga peacefully, Aspendos sent envoys to offer surrender if he would not take the taxes and horses formerly paid as tribute to the Persian king. Agreeing, Alexander went on to Side, leaving a garrison behind. When he learned they had failed to ratify the agreement their own evnvoys had proposed, Alexander marched to the city. The Aspendians retreated to their acropolis and again sent envoys to sue for peace. This time, however, they had to agree to harsh terms - they would host a Macedonian garrison and pay 100 gold talents and 4.000 horses annually.
In 190 B.C., Aspendos, which had been under Seleukid rule, surrendered to the Romans. |
| SH59444. Silver tetradrachm, Price 2901, Müller Alexander 1214, Cohen DCA 312, VF, weight 16.227 g, maximum diameter 31.6 mm, die axis 0o, Aspendos mint, 191 - 190 B.C.; obverse Herakles' head right, clad in Nemean lion scalp headdress tied at neck; Seleukid countermark: anchor in a rectangluar punch; reverse ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝ∆ΡΟΥ, Zeus enthroned left, right leg drawn back, eagle extended in right, long scepter vertical behind in left, wreath above ΑΣ / ΚΒ left (year 22 Era of Aspendos); $350.00 (€269.50) |
| Perga, Pamphylia, Seleukid Empire, 206 - 205 B.C., In the Name of Alexander the Great |  | In 333 BC, the citizens of Perga, long under the rule of Persia, welcomed their liberator Alexander the Great and his army into the city. When this coin was struck Perga was under Seleukid rule but retained the independence to strike coinage. This example is countermarked with a Seleukid anchor. Perga is notable as the home of the renowned mathematician Apollonius of Perga, who is believed to have lived at the time this coin was struck. |
| SH59443. Silver tetradrachm, Price 2928, Müller Alexander 1233, Cohen DCA 314, F, weight 15.903 g, maximum diameter 32.4 mm, die axis 0o, Perga mint, 206 - 205 B.C.; obverse Herakles' head right, clad in Nemean lion scalp headdress tied at neck; Seleukid countermark: anchor within a rectangular punch; reverse ΑΛΕΞΑΝ∆ΡΟΥ, Zeus enthroned left, right leg drawn back, eagle in right, long scepter vertical behind in left, IC (year 16 of the Era of Perga) left; $325.00 (€250.25) |
| Aspendus, Pamphylia, 188 - 187 B.C., In the Name of Alexander the Great |  | After Alexander took Perga peacefully, Aspendos sent envoys to offer surrender if he would not take the taxes and horses formerly paid as tribute to the Persian king. Agreeing, Alexander went on to Side, leaving a garrison behind. When he learned they had failed to ratify the agreement their own evnvoys had proposed, Alexander marched to the city. The Aspendians retreated to their acropolis and again sent envoys to sue for peace. This time, however, they had to agree to harsh terms - they would host a Macedonian garrison and pay 100 gold talents and 4.000 horses annually.
At the time this coin was struck, the territory of Aspendos was surrounded by the Attalid's Pergamene Kingdom but retained independence. |
| SH59445. Silver tetradrachm, Price 2904, Müller Alexander 1217, Cohen DCA 312, gF, weight 15.885 g, maximum diameter 29.5 mm, die axis 0o, Aspendos mint, 188 - 187 B.C.; obverse Herakles' head right, clad in Nemean lion scalp headdress tied at neck; Seleukid countermark: anchor in a rectangluar punch; reverse ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝ∆ΡΟΥ, Zeus enthroned left, eagle extended in right, long scepter vertical behind in left, wreath above ΑΣ / ΚΕ left (year 25 Era of Aspendos); $325.00 (€250.25) |
| Galba, 3 April 68 - 15 January 69 A.D., Koinon of Galatia |  | |
| RP63431. Bronze AE 21, RPC I 3566 (citing only 2 examples); c/m: Howgego 348 (5 pcs), F, weight 6.918 g, maximum diameter 20.6 mm, die axis 0o, obverse ΓΑΛΒΑC CEBACTOC, bare head left, c/m: owl standing right in circular punch; reverse CEBACTWN, hexastyle temple, pellet in center intercolumniation, shield in pediment; rare type and countermark; ex CNG auction 206; lot 343, ex D. Alighieri Collection; $300.00 (€231.00) |
| Phaselis, Lycia, 195 - 194 B.C., In the Name of Alexander the Great |  | Phaselis was under Ptolemaic control from 209 to 197 B.C., when Antiochus III took control. Antiochus III formally took possession of the Egyptian territories in Anatolia through the Peace of Lysimachia in 195. Despite the vicissitudes of the area, Phaselis seems to have retained significant autonomy and struck Alexander type tetradrachms with remarkable continuity from 218 - 185 B.C. The series ended shortly after the conclusion of the Apamea treaty, when Phaselis and the other cities of Lycia were handed over to the Kingdom of Rhodes. From 190 to 160 B.C. it remained under Rhodeian hegemony. After 160 B.C. Phaselis was absorbed into the Lycian confederacy under Roman rule. In the 1st century B.C., the city was taken over by the pirate Zekenites for a period until his defeat by the Romans. |
| SH59437. Silver tetradrachm, civic coinage under Seleukid hegemony; Price 2867, Cohen DCA 315, VF, weight 16.512 g, maximum diameter 31.5 mm, die axis 0o, Lycia, Phaselis mint, 195 - 194 B.C.; obverse Herakles' head right, clad in Nemean lion scalp headdress tied at neck; Seleukid countermark: anchor in an oval punch; reverse ΑΛΕΞΑΝ∆ΡΟΥ, Zeus enthroned left, right leg drawn back, eagle extended in right, long scepter vertical behind in left, Κ∆ (year 24) left, Φ beneath throne; $250.00 (€192.50) |
| Aspendus, Pamphylia, 189 - 188 B.C., In the Name of Alexander the Great |  | After Alexander took Perga peacefully, Aspendos sent envoys to offer surrender if he would not take the taxes and horses formerly paid as tribute to the Persian king. Agreeing, Alexander went on to Side, leaving a garrison behind. When he learned they had failed to ratify the agreement their own evnvoys had proposed, Alexander marched to the city. The Aspendians retreated to their acropolis and again sent envoys to sue for peace. This time, however, they had to agree to harsh terms - they would host a Macedonian garrison and pay 100 gold talents and 4.000 horses annually.
At the time this coin was struck, the territory of Aspendos was surrounded by the Attalid's Pergamene Kingdom but retained independence. |
| SH59439. Silver tetradrachm, Price 2903, Müller Alexander 1216, Cohen DCA 312, aVF, weight 16.520 g, maximum diameter 32.0 mm, die axis 0o, Aspendos mint, 189 - 188 B.C.; obverse Herakles' head right, clad in Nemean lion scalp headdress tied at neck; Seleukid countermark: anchor in a rectangluar punch; reverse ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝ∆ΡΟΥ, Zeus enthroned left, eagle in right, long scepter vertical behind in left, wreath above ΑΣ / Κ∆ left (year 24 Era of Aspendos), eagle standing left under throne; $250.00 (€192.50) |
| Aspendus, Pamphylia, 196 - 195 B.C., In the Name of Alexander the Great |  | After Alexander took Perga peacefully, Aspendos sent envoys to offer surrender if he would not take the taxes and horses formerly paid as tribute to the Persian king. Agreeing, Alexander went on to Side, leaving a garrison behind. When he learned they had failed to ratify the agreement their own evnvoys had proposed, Alexander marched to the city. The Aspendians retreated to their acropolis and again sent envoys to sue for peace. This time, however, they had to agree to harsh terms - they would host a Macedonian garrison and pay 100 gold talents and 4.000 horses annually.
When this coin was struck, Antiochos III the Great had recovered central Asia Minor for the Seleukid Kingdom. Aspendos accepted Seleukid authority in 197 B.C. The city surrendered to Rome in 190 B.C. |
| SH59440. Silver tetradrachm, Price 2896, Müller Alexander 1209, Cohen DCA 312, aVF, weight 16.160 g, maximum diameter 30.9 mm, die axis 0o, Aspendos mint, 196 - 195 B.C.; obverse Herakles' head right, clad in Nemean lion scalp headdress tied at neck; reverse ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝ∆ΡΟΥ, Zeus enthroned left, eagle in right, long scepter vertical behind in left, ΑΣ / ΙΖ left (year 17 Era of Aspendos); Seleukid countermark on right: anchor in a; $245.00 (€188.65) |
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