Lot 2675

Description

Macedon, Mende, (c.510-480 B.C.) issued c.500 B.C., silver tetradrachm (17.08 g), obv. mule advancing to left and on its back, a bird standing right, pecking at its rump, trace of MIN on left, rev. incuse square of mill-sail form, (S.1278 [£1500], cf.Noe ANSNNM Mende 27 1, [earliest issue], BMC 1, SNG ANS -, Asyut 200 [Pl.XI, with cut and poorer condition]). Very rare and very fine, probably the finest known.

Ex Gorny & Mosch, Munich, Auction 159, October 8, 2007 (lot 82).
The city of Mende, located on the Pallene Peninsula on the eastern shore of the Thermaic Gulf was, according to Thucydides (4.123.1), founded by Eretria in the 8th century. It later founded colonies of its own: Neapolis on the eastern coast of Pallene, and Eion at the mouth of the river Strymon near Amphipolis. Mende's wealth is indicated by the high amounts of tribute paid to the Delian Confederacy: eight talents until 451-450 BC, and then amounts ranging form five to nine talents after 438-437 BC. During the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC) Mende originally sided with Athens, but then, on the urging of the oligarchs, went over to the Spartan general Brasidas. It eventually returned to the Athenian side, but is not mentioned in connection with the Peace of Nicias. From 415-414 BC Mende again appears in the Athenian Tribute Lists, but by the fourth century the city was only minting copper coins.