From the Lockett and Weber Collections

Triton XVII, Lot: 130. Estimate $3000. Sold for $5000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MACEDON, Potidaia. Circa 500-480 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 16.96 g). Nude Poseidon Hippios, holding trident in right hand and reins in left, on horseback right; [to left, bird standing right] / Large quadripartite incuse square, diagonally divided. Alexander Group I.B, a.4 (this coin cited); AMNG III/2, 2 var. (star below horse); SNG ANS 688–9 var. (same); SNG Lockett 1366 = Weber 1951 (this coin); Leu 61, lot 102 (same obv. die). VF, toned, struck with worn obverse die. Very rare.

From the RAJ Collection, purchased in 2000 from F. Shore. Ex Richard Cyril Lockett Collection (Greek Part II, Glendining, 12 February 1958), lot 1282; R. Ratto (4 April 1927), lot 499; Sir Hermann Weber Collection, 1951, purchased in 1889 from W.T. Ready.

Potidaia was a Corinthian colony founded in the late 7th century BC. During the Greco-Persian Wars, the city was initially controlled by the Achaemenids, but soon entered into an alliance with other towns in the region against the Persians. As a result, in 479 BC, the city was besieged by the Persians, but was saved by the fortuitous occurrence of a tsunami that devastated the Achaemenid forces. This was the first tsunami recorded in history (cf. Hdt. 8.129). Thereafter, the city became a member of the Delian League, but later revolted against Athens in 432 BC, along with the Chalkidians and Bottiaians. The Athenians beseiged the city for nearly two years, until 430 BC, when it capitulated and many of its inhabitants fled. In the 380s BC, Potidaia joined the Chalkidian League, but was captured by the Athenian Timotheos in 364/3 BC, and a contingent of Athenians were settled in the city. The fortunes of Potidaia continued to decline with the rise of Philip II, who, in 356 BC, forced the city to surrender to the Olynthos and its Athenian population sold into slavery. Ahtough Philip did not destroy the city, its power was so greatly reduced that it ceased to be an independent player in the politics of the region. Potidaia struck a small, yet persistent silver coinage in multiple denominations throughout the 5th century BC, and a bronze coinage in the early to mid 4th century BC.