Lot 3132

Description

Attica, Athens, (166-57 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (16.164 grams), issued 86-84 B.C., obv. head of Athena Parthenos to right wearing triple-crested Athenian helmet, ornamented with Pegasus, within dotted border, rev. owl standing to right, head facing, in erect posture, on prostrate amphora, plain on amphora, across two monograms **LAP* to left and MTA to right, (S.-, Thompson 1318 [same obverse die, new reverse die], BMC 516-518, SNG Cop.292, SNG Lockett 1942). Slightly off centred reverse, minor corrosion spot on ear, otherwise good very fine, very rare and historically important.

After his conquest of Athens, Sulla struck silver tetradrachms and drachms there to finance his further campaigns against Mithridates VI of Pontus. He used the standard Athenian New Style design but replaced the city's ethnic with a pair of monograms. Svoronos explains the monograms as LAURIA-METALLA, meaning silver from the mines of Laurion. Though struck in quantity (according to the number of known dies), these coins are very scarce today.