Lot 3500

Description

Macedon, Roman Provincial issue, (c.95-88 B.C. De Callatay chronology), silver tetradrachm, (16.85 grams), obv. head of Alexander the Great to right, with horn of Ammon and flowing hair, MAKE**[DONW]N* B reversed behind head, rev. AESILLAS / Q above club between money chest and quaestor's chair, all within olive wreath, (S.1463; De Callatay [Clain-Stefanelli Feschrift], obv.die D1, rev. die R2 [p.119, illustrated p.121 for obverse die, reports only one obverse and four reverse dies for this type], SNG Ash 3302 [same dies], SNG Lockett 1542 [same dies]). Well centred on the obverse, very attractive, bright extremely fine and a very scarce variant.

Ex. Triton Sale I, New York, 2-3rd December, 1997 (lot 444). In recent times the chronology of this series has been subjected to much discussion. See various articles cited in SNG Von Post, and they include papers by Fisher in ANS MN No.30 and Bauslaugh in No.32 and more recently a detailed die study by F. De Callatay, 'Les Monnaies au nom Aesillas' in Italiam Fato Profugi, Numismatic Studies Dedicated to Vladimir and Elvira Eliza Clain-Stefanelli, Louvain-La-Neuve, 1996, pp. 113-151.