AR Tetrobol
Size: 15mm Weight: 2.68 grams Die axis: 12h
Histiaia, Euboea
Mid 4th century BCE
Obverse: Head of the nymph Histiaia right, hair bound in decorative sakkos, wearing wreath with grape bunches, single-drop pendant earring, and pearl necklace.
Reverse: The nymph Histiaia seated right on the stern of galley, her left arm placed around stylis to right; galley decorated with wing, grape bunch to left; IΣTIAI-EΩN around.
Purchased from Edward J Waddell 2021, Ex EJW Ltd eAuction 34 (20 June 2001), lot 49. Ex Münzhandlung Basel 8 (22 March 1937), lot 287.
Notes:
-Obverse die match to coin 12, plate 33 in the Catalogue of Greek Coins in the Hunterian Collection, University of Glasgow (1901).
-This rare tetrobol belongs to the early 4th century issue of coinage from Histiaia; the more commonly encountered issue copying this type was minted during the 3rd and especially the 2nd century BCE.
The exact dating of these early tetrobols is not settled. Newell (Octobols of Histiaea) argued the issue was related to the expulsion of a pro-Macedonian ruler by Athenian forces in 341/340 BCE - there is a rare octobol of a similar type with what Newell read as ‘AθA(NA)’ written on the stylis.
Robinson in “A catalogue of the Calouste Gulbenkian collection of greek coins” dated the type from the battle of Chaeronea in 338 BCE onwards.
Collection : Ancient Greek Coins