Lot 4057
Thrace, Abdera. Silver Stater (12.8g) struck ca. 411-385 BC. [A]BΔH. Griffin seated left, wings slightly spread; to left, cicada. Reverse: EΠIΦIΛA / ΔOΣ. Herakles seated three-quarters left, head facing slightly right, on a rock draped with lion-skin, holding club in right hand. May 396 (A277/P322); SNG Lockett 1132 (same obverse die); Gulbenkian 447 (same reverse die). Some flatness on the head of Herakles and surrounding area on the reverse. Lightly toned. Extremely Fine/Choice Very Fine.
Abdera lay on the southern coast of Thrace, to the east of the mouth of the river Nestus. Originally a colony of Klazomenai founded in the seventh century BC, the city did not really begin to flourish until ca. 544 BC when the site was re-occupied by colonists from Teos, refugees from the Persian occupation of their city. Thereafter, Abdera achieved great prosperity, and its coinage commenced within a decade or so of its re-founding. As the coinage of Teos seems to have begun at about the same time, it was agreed that at the mother city, the griffin should face to the right, while at Abdera it should face in the opposite direction. The fabulous creature with a lion's body and the head and wings of an eagle was the civic device of the mother city and was brought with them to their new home. The attractive reverse type of this late fifth-early fourth century issue shows Herakles resting on a rock and is one of a series of Abderite tetradrachms depicting different gods and goddesses.
Estimated Value $4,000 - 6,000.
The Hunter Collection; Ex Superior Stamp & Coin, June 2, 1992, lot 4403.
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| Realized $3,220 |
