Lot 2865

Description

Boiotia, Thebes, (363-338 B.C.), magistrate Epaminondas, issued 364-362 B.C., silver stater, (11.86 g), obv. Boiotian shield, rev. amphora in concave field, with letters **EP AM* either side, (cf.S.2398, Hepworth Series D2, No.31, BCD 541 (p.101, Triton IX), Head, Boeotia p.65 BMC 136 {p.82}, Traite III 267 {p.250}, see R.G. Hepworth "Epaminondas coinage" Proceedings 10th INC Pl.3, 1; Of greatest Historical Interest with less than twenty examples known, good very fine/nearly very fine and very rare.

Ex BCD Collection, from CNG eSale 148, September 30 2006 (lot 80), With BCD tickets and the collector's extensive detailed tickets.^^Robert Hepworth "The 4th Century B.C. Magistrate Coinage of the Boiotian Confederacy" pp.61-89 (Numismatic Chronicle, Hellenic Numismatic Society, 1998) describes the series as having 97 different reverse varieties noted from 1700 examples recorded from all the sources. The series is divided into four major groups with sub-division within. It is established by die-links and hoard evidence of the approximate order of issue. The series appears to have an annual change of magistrates. This variety is noted by Hepworth as part of Group D2, No.31 in table and a rarity of less than 20 known examples.^The Magistrate whose signature appears on this stater was the famous Boiotian statesman Epaminondas. As Boiotarch in 371 B,C,, he was responsible for the crushing defeat of the Spartan army at Leuctra, an historical turning point which marked the end of Spartan military supremacy. In the following years Epaminondas invaded the Peloponnesus to liberate Sparta's vassal state and to organise their political institutions. His accomplishments and noble character earned him a biography by Plutarch. His premature death on the battlefield of Mantineia in 362 B.C. deprived Thebes of its greatest statesman and soldier and signalled the start of Thebes rapid decline into obscurity.