Nomos 5

ISLANDS off IONIA, Samos. Circa 453/2-440/39 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 12.99 g 6), on the Samian standard, struck in year 5 = 449/8. Lion’s scalp facing. Rev. ΣΑ / Ε Forepart of an ox to right, with a beaded truncation and an olive branch behind; all within shallow incuse square. Barron 75(A35/P75) = BMC 93 (same dies). SNG Copenhagen 1681. An attractive and elegant piece, lightly toned. Good very fine.

Ex Triton XIV, 4 January 2011, 315, Triton XII, 5 January 2009, 315, Hauck & Aufhäuser 19, 21 March 2006, 150 and Giessener Münzhandlung 69, 18 November 1994, 361.

This elegant coin was struck about a decade prior to the island’s revolt from the Delian League, done out of jealousy with Miletos. Athens sent a fleet under Perikles and retook Samos but treated the island very leniently, thus ensuring its future loyalty. The island was rich and important during antiquity, and with a few exceptions remained that way ever since. After the Greek War of Independence Samos remained an Ottoman possession, but, unusually, was administered as semi-independent, autonomous principality from 1835 to 1912. Then, as a result of the Balkan Wars, this curious state of affairs came to an end and Samos finally became part of Greece.