Ancient & Islamic Coins

Greek Coinages, IONIA, Magnesia ad Mæandrum, Tetradrachm struck by the magistrate Pausanios, son of Pausanios, c. 155-145, Stephanophoric type, diademed and draped bust of Artemis Leukophryene right, bow and quiver over shoulder, rev. μαγνητων παθσανιασ παθσανιου, Apollo standing left, holding branch tied with fillet in right hand, elbow resting on tall tripod behind, Mæander pattern below, all within laurel wreath, 17.19g (Jones obv. die 20; Gulbenkian 990, same obv. die; SNG Copenhagen 844; BMC 36). Light surface deposits on obverse, otherwise extremely fine, light grey tone
£400-£500

The stephanephoroi, or ‘wreath bearers’ contained within this catalogue all belong to the so called ‘Great Transformation’ of civic coinages. This development, which occurred at over 30 Greek cities, is defined by two features. Firstly, the employment of a distinct fabric and design; all coins were struck on specially pre-hammered flans and all feature a framing wreath on the reverse. These distinct features give the impression of a co-operative coinage, with the coins designed to circulate freely and easily amongst all participating states. Secondly, Stephanophoric coins only employ images that reference local cults and events. For example, the image of Artemis on this coin recalls an epiphany of the goddess which occurred at Magnesia during the late 3rd century BC. This emphasis on local religious events, combined with the coins’ seemingly co-operative nature, indicates the that the Stephanophoroi reflect a common desire to celebrate the very idea of independent civic identity in the face of declining royal power in the eastern Mediterranean