Ex Brand and Weber Collections
ACHAIA, Patrai. Circa 45-40 BC. Æ Tritemorion or Tetrachalkon (19mm, 5.35 g, 11h). Aristarchos, son of Damon, magistrate. Helmeted and draped bust of Athena right / Poseidon standing right, holding dolphin on outstretched arm and preparing to cast trident; Patrai monogram to left, kerykeion to right, [AP]ICTAPXOC Δ[AM]ωNOC ΠATPЄωN around. BCD Peloponnesos 515. VF, dark green patina.
Ex BCD Collection (not in previous BCD sales); Virgil M. Brand Collection (Part 7, Sotheby’s, 25 October 1984), lot 306 (part of); Sir Hermann Weber Collection, 3960.
Located along the northern coast of the Peloponnesos, Achaia was a narrow territory between Sicyon and Elis. One theory suggests that Achaia’s original inhabitants were driven to the area from Achaia Phthoitis, which itself was located across the Gulf of Corinth in southern Thessaly. A number of prehistoric and Mycenaean ruins in the western part of the Achaia indicate that the district was long inhabited, even into remote antiquity. Twelve city-states were located there: Aigai, Aigira, Aigion, Bura, Dyme, Helike, Olenos, Patrai, Pherai, Pelene, Rhypes, and Tritaia. Achaian colonies were established in Magna Graecia at Kroton, Kaulonia, Metapontion, and Sybaris. From the mid-5th century onward, much of the history of Achaia is interconnected with the Achaian League.
