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The ancients had a grand appreciation for the beauty of the human body and a rather bawdy view of sexuality.
Syracuse, Sicily, Agathokles, 317 - 289 B.C.
Although Agathocles was brutal in pursuit of power, afterward he was a mild and popular "tyrant." His grandest goal was to establish democracy as the dominant form of government for the world. He did not want his sons to succeed him as king and restored the Syracusan democracy on his death bed.SH54900. Silver tetradrachm, SNG Lloyd 1494; M. Ierardi, Tetradrachms of Agathokles of Syracuse, AJN N.S. 7-8, 1996, 238, choice gVF, weight 16.445 g, maximum diameter 25.4 mm, die axis 180o, 305 - 295 B.C.; obverse KOPAΣ, head of Kore left, wreathed in grain; reverse AΓA[ΘOKΛEIOΣ], Nike standing half right raising trophy, hammer in right, triskeles at feet left; ex Tom Cederlind, ex Münzen Und Medaillen List 260 (1965), #17; rare with head left; SOLD
Baktria, Diodotus I as Satrap for Antiochus II Theos, c. 255 - 250 B.C.
Diodotus I was the Seleukid governor of Baktro-Sogdiana early in Antiochos II's reign. His first coinage was issued with the Seleukid monarch's portrait. He then issued coins, like this one, with his own portrait, yet retaining the name of Antiochos as king. Diodotus' territory was so remote that he was king in all but title. About 250 B.C., he took the title too and issued coins as king in his own name (BAΣIΛΕΩΣ ΔIOΔOTOY).
Recent scholarship shows that Ai Khanoum (Greek name uncertain) was the principal mint of the region, located on the frontier between Afghanistan and the former Soviet Union.SH42566. Gold stater, Houghton-Lorber I 630, Newell ESM 723, SGCV II 7497, VF, test cut on obverse, weight 8.380 g, maximum diameter 17.8 mm, die axis 180o, Ai Khanoum mint, obverse diademed head of middle-aged Diodotus I right; reverse BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY, Zeus striding left, naked, aegis over extended left arm, hurling fulmen with raised right, wreath over eagle inner left; rare; SOLD
Selge, Pisidia, c. 300 - 190 B.C.
A scarce type inspired by the well known "athletic" issue of Aspendos.SH28066. Silver stater, SNG BnF 1936, SNG Cop -, SNGvA -, BMC Lycia -, EF, minor flan defects on rev, weight 10.747 g, maximum diameter 25.5 mm, die axis 0o, Selge (southern slope of Mount Taurus, Turkey) mint, c. 300 - 190 B.C.; obverse two wrestlers, the left one grabs the wrist and forearm of his opponent, AΛI between their legs; reverse ΣEΛΓEΩN on left, Herakles standing half-left, head turned right, club in raised right, lion-skin in left, O between legs; SOLD
Macedonian Kingdom, Demetrius I Poliorketes, 306 - 283 B.C.
This type was issued in preparation for Demetrios' invasion of Asia Minor. Demetrios was defeated, imprisoned by Seleukos and died in captivity in 283 B.C. The bull's horns suggest his relationship to Poseidon is the same as Alexander's to Zeus Ammon. The portrait is individualized, but evokes the image of Alexander. Demetrios was the first to assimilate elements of Alexander's deified portrait and the first living ruler to portray himself as a god on coins. -- www.lawrence.edu SH75316. Silver tetradrachm, Newell p. 97, 91 and pl. VIII, 12, SNG Cop 1179 var., gVF, superb portrait, tight flan, a few marks, weight 17.018 g, maximum diameter 29.1 mm, die axis 15o, Macedonia, Pella mint, c. 289 - fall 288 B.C.; obverse Demetrios diademed head right with horns of a bull, the animal sacred to Demetrios' patron deity, Poseidon; reverse BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΔHMHTPIOY, Poseidon standing left, right foot on rock, trident in left (apparently inspired by the Lateran Poseidon, a statue by Lysippos, court sculptor of Alexander), KE monogram left, H right; ex Forum (2007), ex Harlan Berk; SOLD
Macedonian Kingdom, Demetrius I Poliorketes, 306 - 283 B.C.
Demetrios was called Poliorcetes, "The Besieger" for his creative siege engines including a battering ram 180 feet long requiring 1000 men and a wheeled siege tower named "Helepolis" (or "Taker of Cities") which stood 125 feet tall and 60 feet wide, weighing 360,000 pounds.SH28933. Silver tetradrachm, CNG 73, 153; apparently unpublished, cf. Newell 33 (stater with these monograms), gVF, weight 17.045 g, maximum diameter 26.9 mm, die axis 0o, Tarsos (Tarsus, Mersin, Turkey) mint, c. 298 - 295 B.C; obverse Nike atop prow of galley decorated with apotropaic eye left, blowing trumpet and holds stylis; reverse ΔHMHTPIOY / BAΣI-ΛEΩΣ, Poseidon stands left, naked save chlamys over extended left arm, about to hurl trident with right, monograms either side; toned, very fine obverse style; rare; SOLD