Tetradrachm - Menandros

Emitent Antioch ad Meandrum
Rok 90 BC - 60 BC
Typ Standard circulation coin
Hodnota Tetradrachm (4)
Měna Drachm
Složení Silver
Hmotnost 16.0 g
Průměr 25.5 mm
Tloušťka
Tvar Round (irregular)
Technika Hammered
Orientace Variable alignment ↺
Rytci
V oběhu do
Reference HN Online#2067
Popis líce Head of Apollo facing right, wearing a laurel wreath and with a bow and a quiver over his shoulder.
Písmo líce
Opis líce
Popis rubu Zebu bull standing left, head facing. Name of the city above and name of the magistrate in exergue. All within maeander pattern border.
Písmo rubu Greek
Opis rubu ANTIOXEΩN MENANΔPOΣ
Hrana
Mincovna
Náklad ND (90 BC - 60 BC) - -
ID Numisquare 2529272630
Další informace

Historical Context: This tetradrachm from Antioch ad Meandrum (90-60 BC) reflects a tumultuous Anatolian period. The city, in Caria, navigated waning Seleucid influence and rising Roman power, especially post-Mithridatic Wars. "Menandros" likely denotes a local magistrate, not the Indo-Greek king. This civic coinage signifies Antioch ad Meandrum's autonomy under Roman hegemony, vital for regional commerce during a complex political transition.

Artistry: The coin's design follows established Hellenistic numismatic traditions, likely from a skilled local workshop. Engravers are anonymous, but the stylistic school drew from broader Greek artistic currents, with regional interpretations. Typical tetradrachm designs feature a prominent deity's head, e.g., Apollo or Zeus, on the obverse, rendered with classical idealism. The reverse commonly displays a standing deity, civic emblem, or mythological scene, with the city's ethnic and magistrate's name, reflecting local identity.

Technical/Grading: Struck on a substantial 16.0 gg silver flan (25.5 mm), this tetradrachm exhibits robust Hellenistic characteristics. High-points for wear typically include the obverse portrait's highest relief areas (hair, brow, nose) and the reverse's raised limbs or drapery. Strike quality varies; well-centered examples show full details. Flan preparation was generally good, though minor imperfections or off-center strikes are not uncommon, impacting the overall technical grade.

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