Lot 1988

Description

Macedon, Acanthus, (475-465 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (16.52 grams), obv. bull kneeling to left, looking back, attacked by lion to right on his back, above Q, in exergue bellow exergual line of dots a palmette, rev. quadripartite incuse square, (S.1362, BMC 3, Desneux [Les tetradrachmes d'Akanthos] cf.No.50, [same rev. die 46]). Gash at top through coin into lion, otherwise very fine and rare.

The gash in the coin is indicative of a testing of its metal quality. This test was applied generally in the East and probably in Egypt. The Asyut hoard which includes these coin types were almost all subject to this test of metal quality. Acanthus was one of those cities that produced a very prolific coinage serving an international need in the archaic and classical period. They were minted on the Attic weight standard [17.2 grams for the tetradrachm], and formed an issue that could circulate with contemporary Athenian coins on equal terms.