Nomos 3

AITOLIA, Aitolian League. Circa 250-225 BC. Stater (Silver, 10.47 g 11). Head of Apollo to right, wearing oak wreath; below neck, ΛΥ Rev. ΑΙΤΩΛΩΝ Aitolos, nude but for his hat hanging down his back, his sword held under his left arm and his chlamys over his right leg, standing left, holding his spear in his right hand and with his right foot propped on a boulder; to left, monogram of ΝΚ; below the point of his chlamys, Α. BCD Akarnania 442 (this coin). De Laix p. 71, 7. SNG Lockett 1686). Tsangari 585b (this coin) . With a head of unusually individualistic style, nicely toned, but with a minor obverse die break. Extremely fine.

From the collections of BCD, Münzen und Medaillen Deutschland 23, 18 October 2007, 442, and A. Moretti, Münzen und Medaillen 61, 7 October 1982, 115, and ex Hess-Leu, 7 April 1960, 167.

The fact that the person portrayed on the obverse wears an oak wreath has led to a great deal of controversy over his identification. The rather individualistic looking head on these coins have led to him being identified as a Seleukid prince, perhaps Antiochos III (though the present dating of this series makes that rather unlikely). However, he is almost certainly the Apollo of Aitolia, a god greatly venerated there (the oak wreath testifies to his local importance, in place of the usual laurel).