Drachm

Historical Context: This silver drachm from Klazomenai dates to a tumultuous period in Ionian history, 499-494 BC, coinciding with the Ionian Revolt against the Achaemenid Empire. Klazomenai, a significant city on the Gulf of Smyrna, played a role in this resistance. The issuance of this coinage during such upheaval underscores the city-state's assertion of autonomy and economic independence, facing the overwhelming might of Persia. This coin records a city grappling with its identity and freedom on the eve of the Persian Wars.

Artistry: The coin's design exemplifies the Archaic Greek style prevalent in Ionia during the early 5th century BC. While specific engravers remain anonymous, the artistry reflects a robust, stylized approach. Klazomenai is renowned for its distinctive winged boar motif, a powerful and perhaps apotropaic symbol. The boar, often associated with local cults or a river god, is rendered with dynamic energy, its wings suggesting divine speed or mythical power. The reverse typically features a simple incuse square, a hallmark of early Greek coinage.

Technical/Grading: Weighing 6.93 grams and measuring 17.5 millimeters, this silver drachm exhibits typical characteristics of early Archaic strikes. Key high-points for wear or strike weakness on the winged boar include the snout, tusks, the crest of its mane, and the extremities of the wings. The overall strike quality can vary, often displaying some degree of off-centering, flatness in broader fields, or minor flan irregularities common to hand-struck coinage. The incuse square reverse may also show strike variations or minor die breaks.