Lot 3396

Description

Macedon, Kingdom of, Demetrios Poliorcetes, (294-288 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (17.202 grams), Amphipolis mint, issued 294-293 B..C., obv. Nike blowing trumpet and holding mast to left on prow, rev. Poseidon striding to left brandishing trident and holding chlamys on outstretched left arm, trident in left field, I and monogram of ME to right in field, below **BA SILE WS*, to right **DHMHTMIOU*, (cf.S.6762, Newell 94, [Pl.VIII, 16]). Superb, with original mint bloom, extremely fine or better and rare.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group, with their ticket ($2500US). 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'.