Lot 4415

Description

Macedon, Roman Provincial issue, (c.95-88 B.C. De Callatay chronology), silver tetradrachm, (16.524 grams), obv. head of Alexander the Great to right, with horn of Ammon and flowing hair, MAKE**[DONW]N Q* behind head, rev. AESILLAS / Q above club between money chest and quaestor's chair, all within olive wreath, (S.1463; De Callatay [Clain-Stefanelli Feschrift], obv.die 76, rev. die uncertain [p.133, illustrated p.131 for obverse die, reports only one obverse and four reverse dies for this type]). Well centred on the obverse, very attractive, bright very fine and scarce.

In recent times the chronology of this series has been subjected to much discussion. See various articles cited in SNG Von Post, and they include papers by Fisher in ANS MN No.30 and Bauslaugh in No.32 and more recently a detailed die study by F. De Callatay, 'Les Monnaies au nom Aesillas' in Italiam Fato Profugi, Numismatic Studies Dedicated to Vladimir and Elvira Eliza Clain-Stefanelli, Louvain-La-Neuve, 1996, pp. 113-151.