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Nomos 16

10 May 2018
Zunfthaus zur Saffran, Zürich
overview
Estimate: 500 CHF
Hammer Price:  1800 CHF
Lot 79

MACEDON. Koinon of Macedon. Period of Severus Alexander, 222-235. Triassarion (Bronze, 25 mm, 12.53 g, 1 h), Beroea. ΑΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Head of Alexander in lionskin headdress to right. Rev. [ΚΟΙΝΟΝ] ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΩΝ <ΝΕ> Alexander, nude to the waist, seated right on a low bench, his right hand on the bench and his left resting in his lap; before him to right, Nike standing left, holding out a helmet to Alexander in her right hand and, by her left side, resting her left on a round shield that bears a representation of Achilles attacking Penthesilea. Apparently unpublished, but for the exact same reverse depiction, see the contemporary Aboukir Medallion of Caracalla in Berlin (18200021). Extremely rare, if not unique. Dark patina. Reverse slightly off center, but effecting only the legend, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

From a German collection acquired prior to 2005.

The reverse of this "Alexander commemorative" struck for the Community of the Macedonians is basically exactly the same as that which appears on the gold medallion of Caracalla that is now in Berlin (cited above). In itself this representation goes back to Homeric imagery, specifically the scene of Thetis, the mother of Achilles, bringing him arms made by Hephaistos to equip him for the Trojan War. A remarkable parallel to the scene on the coin can be found on the Attic RF neck amphora by Hermonax in the Martin von Wagner Museum (L504, dated to c. 450 BC).

Online bidding closes: 10 May 2018, 05:00:00 CEST Current Date & Time: 28 Mar 2024, 18:14:56 CET Remaining Time: Closed Hammer Price:1800 CHF

Pre-Bidding closes on 10 Mai 2018 at 5:00 CEST. Live bidding starts at 14:00 CET and is EXCLUSIVELY available on biddr. Separate registration is required.

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