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Stater - Demetrius I Poliorcetes
| Issuer | Kingdom of Macedonia |
|---|---|
| Year | 306 BC - 295 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Helmeted head of Athena facing right, wearing a crested Corinthian helmet pushed back to reveal the goddess's idealized facial features, rendered in fine Hellenistic style. The helmet is adorned with a prominent crest and decorated cheekpieces, with the visor raised above the forehead. Flowing wavy locks of hair cascade from beneath the helmet down to the neck and shoulder, rendered with considerable sculptural depth and naturalism. The finely modeled facial profile displays a straight nose, slightly parted lips, and a strong chin, reflecting the high artistic standards of the early Diadoch period. The field is plain, with no legend on the obverse. |
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| Reverse script | Greek |
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| Additional information |
Demetrius I assumed the title of king in 306 BC following his naval victory at Salamis in Cyprus — a battle that destroyed Ptolemy's fleet and prompted both Demetrius and his father Antigonus to claim the diadem simultaneously, triggering a cascade of rival Successors to do the same. This stater belongs to that assertive, propaganda-heavy coinage that announced dynastic ambition as much as it facilitated commerce.
Newell 60 places this issue within a specific mint attribution that remains debated; Salamis itself and cities in the Aegean have both been proposed. The series ended abruptly when Demetrius lost Macedonia to Pyrrhus and Lysimachus in 288 BC, after which his coinage ceased entirely.