Triton XVII, Lot: 164. Estimate $3000. Sold for $5000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of MACEDON. Demetrios I Poliorketes. 306-283 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 17.27 g, 6h). Amphipolis mint. Struck circa 294-293 BC. Nike standing left on prow of galley left, blowing trumpet she holds in her right hand and cradling stylis in her left arm / BA-ΣIΛE-ΩΣ ΔHMHTPIOY, Poseidon Pelagaios standing left, seen from behind, preparing to throw trident held aloft in his right hand, chlamys draped over extended left arm; tripod to left; to right, Z above ME monogram. Newell 94 (dies LXXXV/– [obv. die unlisted for issue, rev. die not known]); G. Hirsch 272, lot 219 = CNG 78, lot 434 (same dies). Superb EF, lustrous, minimal die break on obverse (diagnostic for this die).

From the RAJ Collection, purchased in 1995 from F. Shore.

Obverse die LXXXV was used extensively across the early issues at Amphipolis, and was paired with a number of different reverse varieties. The die continued in use long after it developed a die break across its surface. The present issue, however, was the earliest to employ the die, as evidenced by the very faint appearance of the break on all the known examples of this issue.