Nomos AG, 31
AITOLIA, Aitolian League. Circa 238-228 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.97 g, 11h). Attic standard. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / [AI]TΩΛΩN, Aitolos, wearing kausia, seated right on pile of Gallic and Macedonian shields, holding spear upright in right hand, sheathed sword in left; small Λ to inner left, [karnyx at left end of ground line]; to right, monogram above ΣE. Tsangari 483a = BCD Akarnania 430 (this coin); De Laix issue 8; SNG Copenhagen 2-3 var. (control marks on rev.). Near EF, toned, minor scratches under tone. Very rare.
Ex BCD Collection; A. Hess 254 (8 March 1983), lot 168; A. Delbeke Collection (Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge, 23 April 1907), lot 133.
This series served as an ‘alliance money’ along with the Achaian League in their joint war against Demetrios II of Macedon. It is for this reason that a Macedonian shield is included in the pile of shields that Aitolos is seated upon.
