Lot 4218

Description

Attica, Athens, silver tetradrachm, (167-166 B.C. or 135-134 B.C. revised date), (16.7581 g), obv. head of Athena Parthenos to right, wearing triple crested Athenian helmet, ornamented with Pegasos, dotted border, rev. owl standing right, head facing on prostrate amphora, to left a standing Asklepios with staff and snake, **A QE* across, on left side across ME, to right side across in five rows NE**D/EPI/GENO/NIKOG/NE* on the amphora letter **Q*, below amphora ME, all within olive wreath, (cf.S.2555, Thompson 353f [same obverse die], cf. Thompson 353h [same obverse die], Salonika hoard [similar dies], Hess 202 [lot 2478] = Rosenberg 72 [lot 430] from [similar dies]). Nearly extremely fine/extremely fine and very rare.

Ex CNG Auction Sale 32, December 7, 1994 (lot 1294 part]. Thompson reports 101 known tetradrachms featuring Asklepios, from of from 9 obverse and 63 reverse dies. There is a difference of 32 year less between Thompson and the suggested revised chronology. This would make this issue 135-4 B.C.
Asklepios (Asclepius) was the god of medicine in ancient Greek religion and mythology. He was also the patron god, and reputed ancestor, of the Asklepiades (Asclepiades), the ancient guild of doctors. Asklepios was the son of Apollo and the Trikkaian (Triccaean) princess Koronis (Coronis).