Kingdom of Macedonia, Tetradrachm, 246-221 BC
Amphipolis - Silver - VF(30-35)
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Head of Poseidon wearing a seaweed wreath, right.
Apollo seated left on prow turned to the left, holding a bow in his right hand; monogram below.
Beautiful tetradrachm with well-centered flan and early blue patina. The portrait of Poseidon is pleasing to the eye, depicting the god with abundant curly hair mingling with his beard. The centering of the obverse strike reveals the entire iconography, presenting a virile and powerful portrait of the deity. On the reverse, Apollo is finely depicted in a position that illustrates his athletic body and characteristic bow. The attribution of our coin varies according to experts. Some believe it was minted during the reign of Antigonos II Gonatas, while others prefer Antigonos III Doson. The date of minting of our tetradrachm therefore falls within the second half of the 3rd century BC, either 246 BC or 227 BC. However, they seem to agree on the end of minting, which they estimate at 221 BC. The iconography of our tetradrachm is strongly linked to the sea, with the representation of Poseidon and the prow of a ship. It testifies to the recognized maritime power of Macedonia. For Antigonos II, it commemorates his naval victory over Andros in 246 BC, which he celebrated in Delos in honor of Apollo Soter (Apollo the Savior). The presence of Apollo can therefore be explained by the historical context. For Antigonos III Doson, the iconography may be linked to the campaign in Caria that he led from 227 BC, enabling him to halt the power and control of the Lagids in this region. The presence of Poseidon on this coinage may also be a reference to Demetrios Poliorketes, father and grandfather respectively of sovereigns Antigonos II and III, who was considered “Poseidon Taureos”. Whether minted under Antigonos II or Antigonos III, our coin is a testimony to the iconographic continuity of at least three generations of sovereigns from the same family, victorious on the sea and at the head of a renowned maritime power. A must-have! HGC 3.1-1051; SNG Ashmolean 3265 and Pozzi 968 (Sale). Ex Poindessault et Védrines, 4 November 1992, lot 31. Faune d'Argent Collection.
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΑΝΤΙΓΟΝΟY
16.86 gr
Silver
Silver can fall into your pocket but also falls between copper and gold in group 11 of the periodic table. Three metals frequently used to mint coins. There are two good reasons for using silver: it is a precious metal and oxidizes little upon contact with air. Two advantages not to be taken for granted.
Here is thus a metal that won’t vanish into thin air.
It’s chemical symbol Ag is derived from the Latin word for silver (argentum), compare Ancient Greek ἄργυρος (árgyros). Silver has a white, shiny appearance and, to add a little bit of esotericism or polytheism to the mix, is traditionally dedicated to the Moon or the goddess Artemis (Diana to the Romans).
As a precious metal, just like gold, silver is used to mint coins with an intrinsic value, meaning their value is constituted by the material of which they are made. It should be noted that small quantities of other metals are frequently added to silver to make it harder, as it is naturally very malleable (you can’t have everything) and thus wears away rapidly.
The first silver coins probably date back to the end of the 7th century BC and were struck on the Greek island of Aegina. These little beauties can be recognized by the turtle featured on the reverse.
The patina of silver ranges from gray to black.
The millesimal fineness (or alloy) of a coin indicates the exact proportion (in parts per thousand) of silver included in the composition. We thus speak, for example, of 999‰ silver or 999 parts of silver per 1 part of other metals. This measure is important for investment coins such as bullion. In France, it was expressed in carats until 1995.
