338
Thessaly, Thessalian League (196-27 B.C.), Silver Stater, 6.17g, . Magistrates Philippos and Themistogenes. Head of Zeus facing to right, wearing an oak-wreath. Rev. ΘEΣΣA / ΛΩN, Athena Itonia advancing to right, brandishing a spear in her right hand and holding a shield in her left, Artemis advancing to right on right, holding a torch, [Φ]IΛIΠ-ΠOY above, [Θ]EMIΣTOΓEN[HΣ] below (BMC 28; SNG Copenhagen 296 var.). Sharply struck, extremely fine. $ 700
ILLYRO-PAEONIAN REGION
A Duplicate from The Berlin Cabinet
339
Illyro-Paeonian Region, Damastion (c.400-380 B.C.), Silver Tetradrachm, 13.64g, . Head of Apollo facing to left, wearing a laurel-wreath. Rev. ΔAMA / ΣTINΩN, tripod, within a shallow incuse square (May, p. 51, Group III, 7, i (this coin); Babelon, Traité IV, pl. 285, 14). Attractively toned, extremely fine and with a distinguished old pedigree. $ 5,250 This coin published in ‘The Coinage of Damastion’, J.M.F. May (1939), p. 51, 7, i. Ex Berlin Cabinet Duplicates, Hamburger sale, 29 May 1929, lot 207 Ex Numismatic Fine Arts, Berkeley, 19 April 1960, lot 290 Ex Bank Leu AG, Auction 33, Zurich, 3 May 1983, lot 306 Ex Monnaies et Médailles SA, Auction 73, Basel, 17 October 1988, lot 154 Damastion is an enigmatic location of antiquity. It was famous for its silver mines in the ancient period, but the location of the city is unknown to us today, having fallen into obscurity in historical records following its capture by Philip II of Macedon. Some of the coinage produced there prior to the time of Philip was very beautiful, the present coin being an excellent example. It is clear that the obverse has been modelled upon the tetradrachms of the Chalkidian League.