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"Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 333-330 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right, [ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΟΣ] before,
!["Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 333-330 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right, [ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΟΣ] before,](https://portal-images.azureedge.net/auctions-2018/srro10008/images/fb09de7a-5785-4940-b0b7-828c5dd61d82.jpg?w=540&h=360)
Description
"Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 333-330 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right, [ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΟΣ] before, [Δ] behind / Ear of barley with leaf to left, upon which Silenos crouches; META to right, [A]Δ below. Johnston class A, 2.1; HN Italy 1557; SNG ANS 451; SNG Lloyd 373 ; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG München 988; SNG Manchester 202; Gillet Collection (photofile) 193. 7.89g, 20mm, 3h.Good Very Fine; obv. die a little worn. Very Rare.Metapontion was among the first cities of Magna Graecia to issue coinage, and indeed long preceded its later rival Tarentum in this respect. The choice of the barley ear as the civic emblem is unusual in that the other cities all struck coinage displaying types relating to their foundation myths or principal cults. Metapontion's choice may well reflect a significant economic reliance on its major export, a hypothesis supported by the preponderance of Demeter portraits on its later coinage, a convention seemingly broken only in exceptional circumstances, such as the occasional Hygeia issue that was probably elicited by concern over pestilence, flooding or drought.The city's reliance on its agricultural exports made it particularly vulnerable to the increasing barbarian attacks in the fourth century that eventually caused Tarentum to request the assistance of the Epeirote king Alexander in driving the aggressive Lucani and other tribes back into the interior. It was this period of strife that caused the only significant variation in the coinage of Metapontion - the new demands placed on the city by the war against the Lucani and its support for Alexander of Epeiros' campaign are undoubtedly the cause of the sudden rise in output of the mint, as well as the hasty overstriking of Pegasi. It was at this time that militaristic types were introduced, engraved in double relief, depicting the helmeted portraits of the city's founder Leukippos, along with the deities Zeus, Athena 'Tharragoras', Apollo and Herakles - a fitting series of coinage for a Hellenic city threatened by barbaric aggressors. Indeed it is not coincidental that the contemporary issues at Tarentum similarly allude to war, depicting Taras armed, the horseman armed, and sometimes accompanied by Nike. It is also probable that the appearance of the same signatures, notably KAL and API, represent a coordination of defence efforts at a federal level, rather than an artist's signature as is often suggested. The head of Zeus shown here is remarkably similar in style to that god's head which adorned the obverse of the issues which Alexander struck to pay his own troops, and also bears considerable similarity to the Zeus heads of Philip II of Macedon in much the same way that the Herakles stater resembles those of Alexander III 'the Great' to whom the Epeirote king was uncle through his sister Olympias. It is not hard to imagine that the notion of Greek civilisation waging a just war against a barbarian foe should have been readily espoused by the cities of Magna Graecia; as Alexander of Macedon campaigned in the East, so thus did Alexander of Epeiros in the West. The Epeirote king did not meet with the same success as his nephew however. At the Battle of Pandosia in 331, the Greek phalanx was separated, surrounded and destroyed. In a famous passage of historical fiction, Livy narrates that as Alexander of Epeiros lay mortally wounded upon the field of battle he compared his fortunes to that of his illustrious nephew and said that the latter 'waged war against women'. Certainly, the Lucani were competent and determined fighters, and the Greek defeat at Pandosia marked the end of Greek colonisation and expansion in Italy; the Greek cities would increasingly find themselves under pressure from the Oscan tribes."
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"Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 333-330 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right, [ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΟΣ] before, [Δ] behind / Ear of barley with leaf to left, upon which Silenos crouches; META to right, [A]Δ below. Johnston class A, 2.1; HN Italy 1557; SNG ANS 451; SNG Lloyd 373 ; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG München 988; SNG Manchester 202; Gillet Collection (photofile) 193. 7.89g, 20mm, 3h.Good Very Fine; obv. die a little worn. Very Rare.Metapontion was among the first cities of Magna Graecia to issue coinage, and indeed long preceded its later rival Tarentum in this respect. The choice of the barley ear as the civic emblem is unusual in that the other cities all struck coinage displaying types relating to their foundation myths or principal cults. Metapontion's choice may well reflect a significant economic reliance on its major export, a hypothesis supported by the preponderance of Demeter portraits on its later coinage, a convention seemingly broken only in exceptional circumstances, such as the occasional Hygeia issue that was probably elicited by concern over pestilence, flooding or drought.The city's reliance on its agricultural exports made it particularly vulnerable to the increasing barbarian attacks in the fourth century that eventually caused Tarentum to request the assistance of the Epeirote king Alexander in driving the aggressive Lucani and other tribes back into the interior. It was this period of strife that caused the only significant variation in the coinage of Metapontion - the new demands placed on the city by the war against the Lucani and its support for Alexander of Epeiros' campaign are undoubtedly the cause of the sudden rise in output of the mint, as well as the hasty overstriking of Pegasi. It was at this time that militaristic types were introduced, engraved in double relief, depicting the helmeted portraits of the city's founder Leukippos, along with the deities Zeus, Athena 'Tharragoras', Apollo and Herakles - a fitting series of coinage for a Hellenic city threatened by barbaric aggressors. Indeed it is not coincidental that the contemporary issues at Tarentum similarly allude to war, depicting Taras armed, the horseman armed, and sometimes accompanied by Nike. It is also probable that the appearance of the same signatures, notably KAL and API, represent a coordination of defence efforts at a federal level, rather than an artist's signature as is often suggested. The head of Zeus shown here is remarkably similar in style to that god's head which adorned the obverse of the issues which Alexander struck to pay his own troops, and also bears considerable similarity to the Zeus heads of Philip II of Macedon in much the same way that the Herakles stater resembles those of Alexander III 'the Great' to whom the Epeirote king was uncle through his sister Olympias. It is not hard to imagine that the notion of Greek civilisation waging a just war against a barbarian foe should have been readily espoused by the cities of Magna Graecia; as Alexander of Macedon campaigned in the East, so thus did Alexander of Epeiros in the West. The Epeirote king did not meet with the same success as his nephew however. At the Battle of Pandosia in 331, the Greek phalanx was separated, surrounded and destroyed. In a famous passage of historical fiction, Livy narrates that as Alexander of Epeiros lay mortally wounded upon the field of battle he compared his fortunes to that of his illustrious nephew and said that the latter 'waged war against women'. Certainly, the Lucani were competent and determined fighters, and the Greek defeat at Pandosia marked the end of Greek colonisation and expansion in Italy; the Greek cities would increasingly find themselves under pressure from the Oscan tribes."
E-LIVE Auction 1
Sale Date(s)
Lots: 1-542
Lots: 543-1151
Venue Address
Roma Numismatics Ltd.
20 Fitzroy Square
London
W1T 6EJ
United Kingdom
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Within the UK:
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Important Information
ROMA NUMISMATICS
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
D.F. GROTJOHANN
E-LIVE Auction 1
WEDNESDAY 25th July & THURSDAY 26th July
Pre-sale bidding is available at www.romanumismatics.com, with lots 1-542 closing at 12:00pm local time on Wednesday 25th July, and lots 543-1151 closing at 12:00pm local time Thursday 26th July. These bids will be carried over into the live auction.
Live bidding through www.the-saleroom.com will commence at 13:00 local time each day. There will be no extra charge for this service.
Viewing:
At the office of Roma Numismatics
Monday - Friday, 09:30 - 17:30
20 Fitzroy Square,
London, W1T 6EJ
United Kingdom
Roma Numismatics Limited
20 Fitzroy Square
London
W1T 6EJ
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7121 6518
www.romanumismatics.com
email: info@romanumismatics.com
Terms & Conditions
E-LIVE Auction 1
WEDNESDAY 25th July & THURSDAY 26th July
- Pre-sale bidding on lots 1-542 closes at 12.00pm on 25th July.
- Pre-sale bidding on lots 543-1151 closes at 12.00pm on 25th July.
- Live bidding will be provided by www.the-saleroom.com starting at 13:00 on both days. There will be no additional fee for this service.
Viewing:
At the office of Roma Numismatics
20 Fitzroy Square
London, W1T 6EJ
United Kingdom
Monday – Friday, 09:30 – 17:30
Buyer's Fee:
A reduced buyer's fee of 18.5% will be applicable to this sale (22.2% including VAT for UK/EU buyers). Invoices paid by bank transfer, UK cheque or cash will be discounted to 15%.
CONDITIONS OF SALE
The following terms and conditions will apply to this auction:
- All estimates are in POUNDS STERLING. The opening bids will be 80% of the estimate unless there are existing higher bids. There will be a 18.5% Buyer’s Fee added to the hammer price. Invoices paid by bank transfer, UK cheque or cash will be discounted to 15%.
- VAT at 20% (applicable to customers within the UK and EU) is due on the Buyer’s Fee only, not the hammer price.
- The auctioneer guarantees the absolute authenticity of any and all coins sold. There is no expiration to this guarantee. Any coins subsequently found to be not authentic will be exchanged for a full refund of the purchase price. Absentee bids submitted by any other means than the Roma Numismatics website should be received by 20:00 on the day before the auction. It is the bidder’s responsibility to ensure that bids have been received by Roma Numismatics.
- All grades and descriptions are the opinion of the cataloguer. Conditions of all lots are as per the photographs displayed on the Roma Numismatics website; condition reports are available upon request. It is not possible to note all marks or defects, and thus customers are encouraged to carefully examine in person all lots that they are interested in bidding on. Bids, once placed, are final and will not be rescinded. If, however, the attribution is found to be incorrect, the item is returnable within 21 days after the sale. No other returns will be accepted except on the grounds of non-authenticity. All prospective bidders who exercise the opportunity to examine lots in hand shall assume all responsibility for any damage they cause in so doing. The auctioneer shall have sole discretion in determining the value of the damage caused, which shall be promptly paid by the prospective bidder.
- The auctioneer will have absolute discretion to accept or decline any bid, withdraw lots from sale at any time until such point as the purchaser takes physical possession, re-open any lot, even after the hammer has fallen, in which a bidding error has occurred, and to determine in the event of a dispute, the final winner of a lot or to rescind the sale and put the lot up for sale again.
- For the protection of mail or absentee bidders, no ‘unlimited’ or ‘buy’ bids will be accepted. When identical bids are received for the same lot, preference will be given to the bid received first. A mail bid will take preference over a floor bid.
- Some lots may carry a reserve. The auctioneer reserves the right not to sell an item below the confidential price, or will repurchase the item on behalf of the consignor or for the account of Roma Numismatics Ltd. If a reserve exists the auctioneer reserves the right to bid on any lot on behalf of the consignor up to the amount of the reserve against any floor or mail bidders. The auctioneer also reserves the right to bid on any lot on behalf of Roma Numismatics Ltd.
- Title remains with the owner until such time as the customer has paid in full.
- Invoices are due immediately upon receipt. Roma Numismatics Ltd. reserves the right to charge interest on unpaid invoices at the rate of 2% per calendar month, except where prior agreement has been made with regards to payment arrangements.
- A £10 surcharge will be applied to payments made by bank transfer from outside of the UK. The customer is responsible for paying all bank charges and shipping and insurance costs.
- A 2% surcharge will be applied to bids submitted via post or email, rather than placed directly on the Roma Numismatics website. Roma Numismatics is not responsible for any missed lots or bids due to network speed or down-time.
- By making a bid the customer agrees to the above terms and conditions and accepts to be bound by them. These conditions shall take effect and be construed in accordance with the provisions of English Law.
US AND GERMAN COIN IMPORT RESTRICTIONS
Any coins in this sale that fall under US and German import restrictions but may still be legally imported into the US/Germany are accompanied by documentation proving that they were outside of the source country prior to the effective date, or are accompanied by a valid export certificate issued by the country of origin, and/or are contractually attested by the consignor as being legally eligible for import into the US/Germany.
Any coins subject to US/German import restrictions that may not lawfully be imported will be clearly indicated as such with the note: ‘not suitable for US/German market’.
Roma Numismatics will make every effort to ensure that import restrictions affect our clients as little as possible, and will carry out all necessary importations and procedures as required on behalf of the client.
PAYMENT METHODS
Invoices to be settled in POUNDS STERLING immediately upon receipt unless previously agreed otherwise.
Bank Transfer:
Barclays Bank, 22 The Borough, Farnham, GU9 7NH, UK | Account Name: Roma Numismatics
IBAN: GB90 BUKB 2031 0663 0101 39 | BIC: BUKB GB22 | SORT CODE: 20-31-06 | ACC #: 63010139
Cheque (GBP only): Please make payable to Roma Numismatics Limited
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Credit/Debit Card: contact us directly on +44 (0)20 7121 6518
!["Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 333-330 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right, [ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΟΣ] before,](https://portal-images.azureedge.net/auctions-2018/srro10008/images/fb09de7a-5785-4940-b0b7-828c5dd61d82.jpg)