Triton XVII, Lot: 125. Estimate $3000. Sold for $2300. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MACEDON, Mende. Circa 510-480 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 16.82 g). Mule advancing right, M on hind quarter; on its back, bird standing left, pecking at rump; MIN to right / Incuse square of mill-sail form. Noe, Mende 5 corr. (this coin illustrated [not the Jameson specimen]); AMNG III/2, –;SNG ANS –; Dewing 1028; Jameson 1954 (same obv. die). Good VF, toned, slightly granular. Rare.

From the RAJ Collection, purchased in 2001 from F. Shore. Ex 1913 Kaliandra Hoard (IGCH 358).

The city of Mende, located on the Pallene Peninsula on the eastern shore of the Thermaic Gulf was, according to Thucydides (4.123.1), founded by Eretria in the eighth century BC. It later founded colonies of its own: Neapolis on the eastern coast of Pallene, and Eion at the mouth of the river Strymon near Amphipols. Mende's wealth is indicated by the high amounts of tribute paid to the Delian Confederacy: eight talents until 451-450 BC, and then amounts ranging from five to nine talents after 438-437 BC. During the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC) Mende originally sided with Athens, but then, on the urging of the oligarchs, went over to the Spartan general Brasidas. It eventually returned to the Athenian side, but is not mentioned in connection with the Peace of Nicias. From 415-414 BC, Mende again appears in the Athenian Tribute Lists, but by the fourth century BC, the city was only minting copper coins.