Lot 3199

Description

Macedon, Kingdom of, Demetrios Poliorcetes, (294-288 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (approx. 17 grams), Pella mint, issued 294-293 B.C., obv. Nike blowing trumpet and holding stylis to left on prow, rev. Poseidon striding to left brandishing trident and holding chlamys on outstretched left arm, dolphin downwards and star to right in field, monogram to left in field, below **BA SILEW S*, to right **DHMHTMIOU*, (cf.S.6762, Newell 68, p.80, Pl.VI, 18 [same obverse die]). Off centred on obverse, otherwise mint state, uncirculated and very rare.

Slabbed as MS61 and ex John L. Warner USA Collection. Otto Morkholm states in Early Hellenistic Coinage that this obverse type 'has been connected with one of the greatest works of art in Antiquity, the Nike of Samothrace in the Louvre, but the general opinion is now that the statue is somewhat later in date and there is no direct connection between them. This, of course, does not exclude the possibility of the coin type having served as a model or inspiration for the statue'.