267
Lesbos, Methymna AR Stater. Circa 420-377 BC. Head of Athena left, wearing crested helmet ornamented
In Auction XII
Description
Lesbos, Methymna AR Stater. Circa 420-377 BC. Head of Athena left, wearing crested helmet ornamented with vine tendrils, ivy leaf and crescent / MAΘYMNAION around lyre on square tablet in relief; all within incuse square. BMC 10, pl. XXXVI, 11; Franke, Methymna 7A-7D; Imhoof MG 248; McClean 7987; Boston I 1666; Perkins 452; Montagu I, 537. 6.44g, 19mm, 10h. Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. Little is known concerning the foundation of Methymna; the only recorded historical event predating the Classical period is Herodotos’ piece of information that Methymna conquered the neighbouring city of Arisba, the sixth polis on Lesbos, and enslaved its population. Nonetheless, the city must have existed from an early date, since the story of Arion and the dolphin, which involves the Corinthian tyrant Periander and is evidently set at the turn of the 7th century BC, suggests that at this time Methymna must have already been a prominent city with far-reaching contacts across the Greek world. Viewed as the second city of Lesbos after Mytilene, the two cities were long-standing rivals. With the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War, Mytilene revolted against Athenian hegemony (428 BC), and was joined by all the other cities of Lesbos except for Methymna, which despite Mytilenaian collaboration with an anti-Athenian faction in Methymna, sided with Athens. When the revolt was put down the following year, only Methmyna was spared from having its territory colonised and garrisoned by the Athenians. Indeed, after 427, along with Chios, Methymna was the only member of the Delian League allowed to remain self-governing and exempt from paying the phoros (tribute). The city’s unwillingness to join the other cities of Lesbos in revolt does seem to have been motivated by a genuine sense of loyalty within the city’s populace, as Thucydides indicates that the Methymnaians were much more inclined to side with Athens than Sparta, and when the Spartan commander Kallikratidas besieged Methymna in 406, the city stayed loyal to its Athenian garrison and held out until betrayed by several traitors. The present coin continues a long Methymnaian tradition of placing Athena on the obverse of their coinage, a practice that seems to have begun at the time of the founding of the Delian League. Methymna must have been an original member of the League, and was one of the city-states that encouraged Athens to replace Sparta as hegemon in the war with Persia. Given that the city remained in Spartan hands until c.379, the type, with its clear pro-Athenian character, most likely dates either to the period of the Peloponnesian War or to the time immediately after it had freed itself from Spartan influence and became one of the founding members of the Second Athenian Naval League.
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Lesbos, Methymna AR Stater. Circa 420-377 BC. Head of Athena left, wearing crested helmet ornamented with vine tendrils, ivy leaf and crescent / MAΘYMNAION around lyre on square tablet in relief; all within incuse square. BMC 10, pl. XXXVI, 11; Franke, Methymna 7A-7D; Imhoof MG 248; McClean 7987; Boston I 1666; Perkins 452; Montagu I, 537. 6.44g, 19mm, 10h. Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. Little is known concerning the foundation of Methymna; the only recorded historical event predating the Classical period is Herodotos’ piece of information that Methymna conquered the neighbouring city of Arisba, the sixth polis on Lesbos, and enslaved its population. Nonetheless, the city must have existed from an early date, since the story of Arion and the dolphin, which involves the Corinthian tyrant Periander and is evidently set at the turn of the 7th century BC, suggests that at this time Methymna must have already been a prominent city with far-reaching contacts across the Greek world. Viewed as the second city of Lesbos after Mytilene, the two cities were long-standing rivals. With the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War, Mytilene revolted against Athenian hegemony (428 BC), and was joined by all the other cities of Lesbos except for Methymna, which despite Mytilenaian collaboration with an anti-Athenian faction in Methymna, sided with Athens. When the revolt was put down the following year, only Methmyna was spared from having its territory colonised and garrisoned by the Athenians. Indeed, after 427, along with Chios, Methymna was the only member of the Delian League allowed to remain self-governing and exempt from paying the phoros (tribute). The city’s unwillingness to join the other cities of Lesbos in revolt does seem to have been motivated by a genuine sense of loyalty within the city’s populace, as Thucydides indicates that the Methymnaians were much more inclined to side with Athens than Sparta, and when the Spartan commander Kallikratidas besieged Methymna in 406, the city stayed loyal to its Athenian garrison and held out until betrayed by several traitors. The present coin continues a long Methymnaian tradition of placing Athena on the obverse of their coinage, a practice that seems to have begun at the time of the founding of the Delian League. Methymna must have been an original member of the League, and was one of the city-states that encouraged Athens to replace Sparta as hegemon in the war with Persia. Given that the city remained in Spartan hands until c.379, the type, with its clear pro-Athenian character, most likely dates either to the period of the Peloponnesian War or to the time immediately after it had freed itself from Spartan influence and became one of the founding members of the Second Athenian Naval League.
Auction XII
Sale Date(s)
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Important Information
ROMA NUMISMATICS
AUCTION XII
29 September 2016
11:00 Greek Coins
13:00 Roman, Migration Period, Byzantine and World Coins
18:00 End of Sale
Location:
The Alto Room
The Cavendish Hotel London
81 Jermyn Street
London
SW1Y 6JF
United Kingdom
Viewing:
At the office of Roma Numismatics
20 Fitzroy Square
London, W1T 6EJ
United Kingdom
From August 29th – September 28th:
Monday – Friday, 09:30 – 17:30
Lots will not be available for viewing during the sale.
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W1T 6EJ
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