Unusual Depiction of a Hydra

Sale: CNG 81, Lot: 266. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 20 May 2009.  Sold For $1400. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MACEDON, Apollonia. 4th century BC. Æ 17mm (5.82 g, 1h). Wreathed head of Persephone right / Hydra left. SNG ANS -; Traité IV 466; Robinson & Clement, Excavations at Olynthus. Part IV. The Coins Found at Olynthus in 1931 (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins, 1933), p. 83, 734-6; Robinson & Clement p. 342, and pl. XXXII, 13 (all attributed to Lamia in Thessaly). Near VF, rough dark brown patina, chipped around edge. Extremely rare.

This rare bronze issue was traditionally attributed to Lamia in Thessaly due to the hydra reverse type, which is found on the early silver of that city (see Georgiou, Mint, 1-3). None of the published examples have a clear ethnic. However, two examples in a private collection have enough of the ethnic visible to confirm that the issuing city is called Apollonia. As all of the examples with a known find spot have been found in Macedon, it is nearly certain that they were issued by one of the three Apollonias of Macedon. As yet, however, there is too little evidence to ascribe these coins to one of the cities in particular.