From the collections of J. P. Rosen, C. Gillet ('Kunstfreund'), Vicomte de Sartiges, G. Philipsen and R. Allatini
Lot 100
THRACE. Maroneia. Circa 436/5-411/0 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 23 mm, 14.62 g, 6 h), Metrodotos, magistrate. [M]APΩNITE[ΩN] Bridled horse springing to left, with trailing rein; above, wreathed head of Apollo facing slightly to right. Rev. MHT-POΔ-OT-OΣ: around linear square containing grape vine with four bunches of grapes; all within incuse square. De Sartiges 177 (this coin). Schönert-Geiss 127.6 (this coin, V28/R37). A.B. West: Fifth and Fourth Century Gold Coins from the Thracian Coast, in: ANS NNM 40 (1929), p. 64, 34d-e (both this coin). A beautiful and perfectly centered example of this rare issue with a most impressive pedigree. Very light die rust on the oberse and with a minor flan fault on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.


From the Kleinkunst Collection, ex Sotheby's, 8 July 1996, 37 and Sotheby's, 5 July 1995, 40 ('Two hundred highly important Greek and Roman coins'), from the collection of J. P. Rosen, Münzen & Medaillen 72, 6 October 1987, 548, ex Münzen & Medaillen 54, 26 October 1978, 157, from the C. Gillet Collection ('Kunstfreund'), photofile no. 826 and from the collections of Vicomte L. E. P. de Sartiges (1859-1924), G. Philipsen, Hirsch XXV, 29 November 1909, 177 and R. Allatini, Sotheby's, Wilkinson & Hodge, 9 May 1904, 184.


Maroneia was one of the numerous Greek apoikies founded in the 7th century BC on the Thracian coast to get access to the ressource-rich Thracian hinterland. The Chian colonists chose the location of their new settlement wisely: it controlled its own silver mines and possessed a fine harbor, but it became particularly well known for its wine, which was produced on the southern slopes of the Rhodope Mountains and was praised for its excellent quality throughout antiquity. Another source of income was the breeding of horses in the coastal plain, which appear on the city's Classical coinage together with grape vines. Like most of its neighbors, Maroneia became a member of the Delian League in the 5th century BC, whose tribute lists attest its growing prosperity: in 454 BC, the city paid an annual contribution of 1.5 talents or 9,000 drachms, a sum that doubled to 3 talents or 18,000 drachms in 437 BC and spiked to no less than 21 talents in 425/4 BC, amidst the Peloponnesian War - a staggering tribute of 126,000 drachms or 31,500 tetradrachms!
Estimate:
7500 CHF
Starting price:
6000 CHF
Hammer price:
15000 CHF
Bid increment:
Closed
Minimum bid:
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Closing time: 23-Oct-20, 06:00:00 CEST
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