Lot 4535

Description

Ionia, Heraclea ad Latmun, (after 150-145 B.C.), tetradrachm (stephanophoros), (15.27 g), obv. helmeted head of Athena to right, wearing triple-crested Athenian helmet, adorned in front with foreparts of five horses, behind raised cheekpiece with Pegasus running and at back with tendril, also with triple-pendant ear-ring and pearl necklace, rev. oak-wreath enclosing club, above **HRAKLEWTWN*, below Nike standing to left holding wreath all between two monograms **SKA and **WDIR*, (cf.S.4453, SNG Lockett 2823 [Pl.XLIX], Pozzi Collection [lot 2452]). Heavy patination, of light weight, weak in places on the reverse, otherwise nearly extremely fine, rare.

The city of Heraclea, situated at the head of the Latmic Gulf about fifteen miles east of Miletus, was best known for a cave which was regarded as the tomb of Endymion. Heraclea joined with other Ionian and Aeolian cities in the issue of "stephanephori" around 160-150 B.C., its issue being much smaller. Heraclea's obverse type for these broad flanned tetradrachms seems borrowed from the New Style coinage of Athens. The club on the reverse is a symbol of Heraclea, the city's namesake.