IONIA. Magnesia ad Maeandrum. Circa 350-325 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 28 mm, 15.15 g, 12 h), Rhodian standard. Pitthion, magistrate. Helmeted warrior, in military attire and holding lance in his right hand, on horseback to right. Rev. MAΓN / ΠΙTΘΙΩN Bull butting to left; all within maeander pattern. Cf. Kinns, Studies, p. 137, note 4 = SNG Fitzwilliam 4505 and SNG von Aulock 2039 (drachms). Gorny & Mosch 155 (2007), 120 (same obverse die). Künker 168 (2010), 7353 = Künker 236 (2013), 90 (same dies). UBS 56 (2003), 130 (same dies). Extremely rare, one of only four known examples. A beautifully toned, very well centered and impressive coin. About extremely fine.


This and lot 194 below seem very similar, but they are in fact almost two centuries apart: the tetradrachm was struck in the 3rd quarter of the 4th century BC to the Rhodian standard, just before the minting of the Persian treasury by Alexander in Attic tetradrachms and drachms brought along a new 'international' silver currency that replaced most civic silver issues. The Attic oktobol, on the other hand, was struck in the 2nd century BC, which saw a rapid reemergence of civic silver coins in western Asia Minor, particularly in the form of stephanophoric tetradrachms. It is remarkable that the iconography on the 4th century tetradrachm and the 2nd century oktobol remains virtually unchanged, despite the distance of time and the introduction of the stephanophoroi with their radically new design - a testimony to the longevity of civic traditions in many Greek poleis.