Lot 3499

Description

Macedon, Roman Provincial issue, (c.95-88 B.C. De Callatay chronology), silver tetradrachm, (16.60 grams), Pella mint, obv. head of Alexander the Great to right, with horn of Ammon and flowing hair, [MAKE**D]ONWN* plain 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 D13, [p.125, illustrated p.123 for obverse die], SNG Ash 3302 [same dies], SNG Lockett 1542 [same dies]). Well centred on the reverse, very attractive, bright good silver, nearly extremely fine and a very scarce variant.

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. Most issues known are struck with a Thessalonica mint mark, Pella as a mint is much rarer.