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Egypt, Memphis or Aswan (?), Satrap Sabakes, 335-333 BC, AR TetradrachmHead of Athena right with punch mark X on cheek.
Owl standing right, head facing, crescent and olive spray to left, crescent above a stylized thunderbolt (Sabakes symbol) and Aramaic legend SWYN (Aswan) to right, punch mark X on owl.
Nicolet-Pierre 6, D4/R-; SNG Copenhagen 3; Van Alfen Type I, O4/R-; Mitchiner 10a; Sear GCV 6232. Van Alfen (AJN 14 2002) countermark 3 on obv. & rev.
(24 mm, 16.91 g, 9h).
From LWHT Col.; HJB 166, 15 October 2009, 176.
Sabakes, to whom the issue of this coin type is attributed, was the penultimate Persian Satrap of Egypt. In 333 BC he led a contingent from Egypt to join the Persian army facing Alexander the Great at Issos, where he perished in battle. It is likely that this coin was struck under his governorship, perhaps for use as payment in preparations for the expeditionary force in support of Darius III. Counter marks are commonly present on these coins and most of the surviving examples are worn, indicating an extended period of circulation. This is consistent with the fact that the next coinage to be struck in Egypt was almost a decade later, shortly after the death of Alexander the Great.
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Mesopotamia, Mazakes 330-323 BC, AR Tetradrachm Helmeted head of Athena right.
Owl standing left, olive spray and crescent behind, Aramaic legend [MZ]DK to right.
Le Rider, Alexander p. 214-219, pl. 7,15; Van Alfen, Owls Group IV(Babylon); Mitchiner 12(d) (Babylon).
(20 mm, 16.6 g, 10h)
Naville Numismatics 38 (12 March 2018), Lot 144.
The Persian satrap Mazakes voluntarily surrendered Egypt to Alexander the Great in November 332 BC. Based on the numismatic evidence it is believed he was rewarded for this action with a satrapy in Mesopotamia (northern Iraq) accompanied by the right to strike coinage in the form of imitative Athenian 'owls' for local use.
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Parthia, Andragoras, ca. 245-238 BC, AR DidrachmHelmeted head of Athena r.; monogram behind.
Owl standing r., head facing; galley prow r. above grape vine branch behind, AΘE to r.
Taylor 'Birds of a Feather' 2.15; HGC 12, 3 (Baktria); H. Nicolet-Pierre & M. Amandry, RN 1994, 49 (Baktria); SNG ANS 9, 4 var. (Baktria).
(18 mm, 8.11 g, 6h).
Roma Numismatics E-Live 4 (20 Nov. 2018), lot 440; ex- 'Andragoras-Sophytes' Hoard.
This coin like all the Series 2 didrachms has a strongly developed hammered edge fabric giving the edge of the coin a faceted appearance that is much more evident in hand than in the photo.
Although the mint control symbol consisting of a galley prow may seem out of place on a coin struck in Parthia, it should be remembered that the province of Parthia bordered the Caspian Sea, the world's largest inland body of water, undoubtedly plied by galleys in ancient times.
The 'Andragoras-Sophytes' hoard came to market from mid-late 2017. It was reputedly found in 2014 and consisted of approximately 600 coins from at an undisclosed location in Afghanistan (Hoard information: Olivier Bordeaux & Osmund Bopearachchi). Around half of these coins were marketed by Roma Numismatics in a succession of auctions commencing in 2017 and continuing through 2019.
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Parthia, Andragoras, ca. 245-238 BC, AR DidrachmHelmeted head of Athena r.; bunch of grapes behind.
Owl standing r., head facing, crescent, olive spray (largely off-flan) and bunch of grapes (mostly off-flan) behind, AΘE to r.
Taylor Birds of a Feather 2.3, 96 (dies a7/p12) ; HGC 12, 4 (Baktria); H. Nicolet-Pierre & M. Amandry, RN 1994, 24-28 (Baktria); SNG ANS 9, 5 (Baktria).
(19 mm, 7.94 g, 6h).
Roma Numismatics XVII (28 Mar. 2019), lot 587; ex 'Andragoras-Sophytes' Hoard.
The 'Andragoras-Sophytes' hoard came to market from mid-late 2017. It was reputedly found in 2014 and consisted of approximately 600 coins from at an undisclosed location in Afghanistan (Hoard information: Olivier Bordeaux & Osmund Bopearachchi). Around half of these coins were marketed by Roma Numismatics in a succession of auctions commencing in 2017 and continuing through to 2019.
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Parthia, Andragoras, ca. 245-238 BC, AR DrachmHelmeted head of Athena right.
Eagle standing left, head right; grape bunch and leaf on vine with kerykeion (partially off flan) above.
Taylor Birds of a Feather 3.7, 176 (this coin illustrated); HGC 12, 8 var. (no kerykeion) (R2); Bopearachchi, Sophytes 2 var.; SNG ANS 9, 14-16 var. (no kerykeion); Mitchiner 26d.
(13 mm, 3.48 g, 6h).
Classical Numismatic Group Mail Bid Auction 75, 23 May 2007, 613.n.igma
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Parthia, Andragoras, ca. 245-238 BC, AR TetradrachmHelmeted head of Athena r.; Î YMH monogram behind in lower l. field.
Owl standing r., head facing; olive-sprig, crescent and grape bunch behind, AΘE to r.
Taylor Birds of a Feather 2.7, 51 (this coin) dies A5/P8; HGC 12, 2 var.; H. Nicolet-Pierre & M. Amandry, "Un nouveau trésor de monnaies d’argent pseudo-Athéniennes venu d’Afghanistan” RN 1994, 13-15 (attributed to Baktria); Bopearachchi Sophytes 1 (Baktria); Mitchiner 13e (attributed to Babylon).
(22 mm, 16.83 g, 6h).
Coin India; ex- Hakim Hamidi (an Afghan coin dealer).
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Parthia, Satrapy of Andragoras, ca. 250-238 BC, AR TetradrachmHelmeted head of Athena r.
Owl standing r., head facing, olive-sprig and crescent behind, AΘ[E] to r.
Taylor 'Birds of a Feather' 1.1; SNG ANS 9, 1; HGC 12, 1.
(23 mm, 16.73 g, 6h).
Roma Numismatics eSale 45 (5 May 2018), Lot 373; ex-'Andragoras-Sophytes' Hoard.
The advanced style of the owl and the 6h die adjustment of this coin indicate that it was struck at the end of Series 1 in the transition to Series 2 at which time the die axis adjustment changed from 12h to 6h and the reverse incuse square gave way to a non-incuse reverse. This intermediate fabric is proof that the two series were struck without a time gap between them.
The 'Andragoras-Sophytes' hoard came to market from mid-late 2017. It was reputedly found in 2014 and consisted of approximately 600 coins from at an undisclosed location in Afghanistan (Hoard information: Olivier Bordeaux & Osmund Bopearachchi). Around half of these coins were marketed by Roma Numismatics in a succession of auctions commencing in 2017 and continuing through 2019. n.igma
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Roman EphesusIonia, Ephesus, Claudius, 41-54, AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm
TI. CLAVD CAES AVG. Claudius bare head, facing left.
DIAN-EPHE Cult statue of Diana (Artemis) of Ephesus inside a tetra style temple, set on three tiered base; pediment decorated by figures flanking three windows.
RIC I 118; RPC I 2222; BMCRE 229; RSC 30; Sear Millennium 1839. Ephesus ca. 41-42 AD.
(25 mm, 11.14 g, 6h).
The Temple of Artemis (Diana) at Ephesus was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Depicted on this coin, which was minted shortly after Claudius’ accession to the throne, there remains no trace of the temple other than some recently stacked column remnants to mark the location. Pliny The Elder described the temple as 115 meters in length, 55 meters in width, made almost entirely of marble; consisting of 127 Ionic style columns 18 meters in height. The original temple, which stood on the site from about 550 BC, was destroyed by arson in 356 BC. It was rebuilt at the direction of Alexander III the Great around 330 BC, in the form depicted on the coin, only to be destroyed by the Goths in 262 AD. Again rebuilt, it was destroyed for the final time by Christians in 401 AD. The marble of the temple was used to construct other buildings. Some of the columns found their way into the church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (Istanbul).
The site of the temple was rediscovered in 1869 by an expedition sponsored by the British Museum, but little remains to be seen today. A Christian inscription found at Ephesus reads Destroying the delusive image of the demon Artemis, Demeas has erected this symbol of Truth, the God that drives away idols, and the Cross of priests, deathless and victorious sign of Christ. This Christian zeal explains why so little remains of the site despite its repute in the ancient pre-Christian world.
This coin is rare with a few dozen examples known. In contrast to most examples, which show a four-tiered temple base, the reverse of this coin shows a three-tiered temple base, the same as that found on the Parthenon. The rectangles visible on the pediment of the temple are frequently identified as depictions of tables, or altars attended by flanking figures. However, architectural reconstructions of the temple show these rectangles as windows permitting light into the temple interior, a fact supported by the presence of pediment window frame moldings amongst the remains of other temples from the period in Asia Minor. The Ionic style of the temple’s columns, as described by Pliny, is clearly visible in the reverse image.n.igma
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Seleukid Kingdom, Antiochos IV Epiphanes, 175-164 BC, AR Tetradrachm - Ake PtolemaisDiademed head of the Antiochos IV r., (ΛB) monogram behind (only truncated r. limb of Λ is visible).
BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY ΘEOY EПiΦANOYΣ NIKHΦOPOY (of King Antiochos God Manifest Bearer of Victory) Zeus enthroned l., holding Nike in extended r. hand and scepter in l., palm branch in outer l. field, HP monogram in exergue
SC 1476.1a; Morkholm 6; HGC 9, 620c; Commerce (“Demetrius I”) Hoard, 2003 (CH10.301) #417 (this coin).
Minted in Ake-Ptolemais ca.168-164 BC.
(32 mm, 17.03 g, 12h).
Freeman & Sear Fixed Price List 10 (Spring 2005) Lot 174; from the Commerce (“Demetrius I”) Hoard, 2003 (CH10.301) #417 (this coin).
The Commerce (“Demetrius I”) Hoard, 2003 (CH10.301) from which this coin originated came to market in Europe during 2003. Consisting of 532 coins, including 450 tetradrachms, it was documented by Catherine Lorber in Coin Hoards X. This coin was one of eleven Antiochos IV tetradrachms from the hoard offered in Freeman & Sear’s Fixed Price List 10 in 2005.
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