Fine Style Tetradrachm

Triton XIV, Lot: 326. Estimate $7500. Sold for $7500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SATRAPS of CARIA. Maussolos. Circa 377/6-353/2 BC. AR Tetradrachm (22mm, 15.24 g, 12h). Head of Apollo facing slightly right, wearing laurel wreath, drapery around neck / MAYΣΣΩΛΛO, Zeus Labraundos standing right; small A between his leg and scepter. Traité II 94; SNG Keckman -; Karl-; SNG von Aulock -; SNG Kayhan -; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC 3 (same dies); Hauck & Aufhäuser 18, lot 275 (same obv. die); Gorny & Mosch 125, lot 215 (same obv. die); Tkalec, 19 February 2001, lot 133 (same obv. die). Near EF. Fine style.

As part of the Achaemenid Empire, Caria in the fourth century BC was under the rule of a family of semi-independent satraps known as the Hekatomnids after the dynasty's founder, Hekatomnos. Born in Mylasa, Hekatomnos was appointed satrap of Caria by Artaxerxes II after the fall of Tissaphernes in 392/1 BC, and was later given control of Miletos in 386 BC. Interested in Hellenic culture (and possibly hedging his diplomatic bets), Hekatomnos sent his youngest son, Pixodaros, to Athens as part of a deputation; his older son, Maussolos, was bound by xenia, or guest friendship, with Agesilaus, king of Sparta. Hekatomnos struck the first coins for the Carian satrapy, copying the lion types of Miletos. His later issues introduced the type that would become the emblem of the dynasty, the figure of Zeus Labraundos, whose temple was near Mylasa. Hekatomnos died in 377/6 BC and was succeeded by Maussolos.

At the time of Maussolos’ accession, Achaemenid power was weakened by the independence of Egypt and a revolt of the subject Kadusioi. As a result, the satraps of Asia Minor were able to exercise considerable independence; an opportunity of which Maussolos took full advantage. Moving the satrapal capital to Halikarnassos, he fortified the city and allowed its population to increase in size. As part of the civic building program, he constructed a massive tomb for himself near the city’s center. Known later as the Mausoleum, its size and elaborate decoration made it one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. In addition, Maussolos moved and refounded the Greek cities of Knidos, Erythrai, and Priene. His relations with the Persians took a downturn when he briefly joined the Great Satrap Revolt, a series of rebellions that continued to spring up in the Persian Empire throughout the 360s, all of which ultimately failed. For the remainder of his rule thereafter, Maussolos continued to act more or less independently, although he had to accept a Persian garrison in Halikarnassos. During the early years of his reign, a new obverse type, featuring the facing head of Apollo/Helios, was introduced. It became the standard obverse type for most of the Carian satrapal issues thereafter. Maussolos died in 353/2 BC, and was succeeded by his sister-wife, Artemisia.