Lot 1518
Macedonian Kingdom. Antigonos III Doson. Silver Tetradrachm (17.07 g), 229-221 BC. Amphipolis, ca. 227-225 BC. Head of Poseidon right, wreathed with marine plants. Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIΓONOY inscribed on side of prow, Apollo seated left on prow, testing arrow; below, monogram. Touratsoglou 52-3; SNG Alpha Bank 1046-7; SNG Saroglos 933. NGC grade Ch XF; Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. Fine style. Estimated Value $2,500 - UP
There remains some controversy in modern scholarship over whether the types of the present tetradrachm were struck by Antigonos III Doson or his predecessor, Antigonos II Gonatas. While there can be little doubt that the types advertise Antigonid Macedonian naval power, early numismatists believed that they reflected the victory of Antigonos II over the Ptolemaic fleet at the battle of Kos (c. 285 BC). In this case, the reverse depiction of Apollo on the prow was thought to allude to the celebratory dedication of the king’s ship to Apollo at Delos that followed the victory. In the 1990s, however, new hoard evidence seemed to argue in favor of attribution to Antigonos III Doson in association with his naval expedition against Caria in 227 BC. Nevertheless, reconsideration of the hoard chronology in the early 21st century and monograms shared between the Poseidon/Apollo on prow series and other tetradrachms attributed to Antigonos II again raises the possibility that the former are actually issues of that king rather than of Antigonos III.Antigonos III was not actually in the regular line of Antigonid royal succession, but became regent for his young nephew, Philip V. His successes in reconquering rebellious cities in Thessaly and repelling the Dardanians in 229-228 BC supposedly led the Macedonian nobles to grant him the royal title. Following the Carian expedition, Antigonos III reasserted Macedonian authority in mainland Greece by reconstituting the old Hellenic League of Alexander the Great and crushing the Spartans at the battle of Sellasia (222 BC). From this victory he was forced to immediately march north to deal with an Illyrian invasion of Macedonia. During the fighting he fell, not from wounds, but from a sudden aneurism brought on by shouting orders to his troops. Antigonos III died, leaving Philip V with a much stronger kingdom than he might have had without him.
Ex Stack's (June 1994), 2104.
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| Realized $8,100 |
