Lot 3252

Description

BOEOTIA, Haliartos, Silver stater, 475-450 B.C., 12.26 grams, obv. Boeotian shield, rim divided into eight segments, rev. incuse square with anticlockwise mill-sail pattern, boxed H in centre, BCD 156a (Triton IX Sale, same dies), SNG Lockett 1720 (same reverse die), cf.Traite I, 1335 (Pl.XLI, 18), cf.SNG Lewis 643, BMC 6 (p.48, cf.Pl.VII, 13 and 14), cf.Head 'Boeotia' (P.14, cf.Pl.I, 4), cf.SNG Lewis 643, cf.Pozzi 1374, Sear 1797. Nearly extremely fine, toned and very rare.

Ex BCD Collection purchased from the A. Hess Auction Sale, No.253, 8 March 1983 (lot 176 illustrated) and realised 2200 + 15% SFr. and previously from L. Hamburger Auction Sale No. 11 June 1930 (lot 745 where it realised 60 Reichmarks, illustated). The same dies examples in BCD Sale lot 156 with a fragment realised $3250 + 15%US. Haliartos was an ancient Greek city, placed in the middle of Boiotia near Lake Kopais. The place was already known in Mycenian times and known then for its meadows (Iliad 2.503). It joined the Boiotian League late in the 6th century B.C. and issued coins with Thebes and Thespiai utilising the Boiotian shield on the obverse. The mint letter 'heta' H in Archaic form was placed on the coin initially on the obverse but latter in the centre of the reverse as in this example. The close association with Thebes is noted by this coinage. In 480 B.C. Xerses I destroyed Haliartos for its support of the Greek cause, but it was soon rebuilt. Athens invaded the region in 456 B.C. and Haliartos was forced to establish a pro-Athenian democracy. In 395 B.C. Haliartos joined with Lebadeia and Koroneia to form a unit of the Boiotian League. Haliartos was again destroyed in 171 B.C. during the Third Macedonian War. On the Acropolis of the city are building remains from the Mykenaian period (pre 1200 B.C.). In the highest place was a temple of the Athena dating from the 6th century B.C.