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DYNASTS of LYCIA. Mithrapata. Circa 390-370 BC. AR Stater (22.5mm, 9.71 g, 10h). Forepart of lion right / Head of Mithrapata left; MI-THRA-PATA in Lycian around, triskeles to lower right; all within incuse square. Mildenberg, Mithrapata 3 (dies 2/2); Podalia 37–40 (A2/P2); Müseler VII 66–9 (same dies); Reuter 98 (same obv. die); Falghera –; SNG Copenhagen Supp. 472 var. (arrangement of letters); SNG Ashmolean 1200 (same dies); SNG von Aulock 4237 (same dies). Iridescent tone, slightly off center and some weakness to strike on obverse. EF. Exceptional Hellenistic portrait.
From the DMS Collection, purchased from Harlan J. Berk, 25 April 1996.
The portraits on coins in the later Lycian series are among the finest of the Classical period. Among the earliest to attempt depictions of their rulers on coinage, the Lycians' first portraits in the later 5th century BC were innovative, but static, idealized forms lacking individual characterization. Over the next half-century, however, the style progressed significantly toward realism, culminating in the issues of the dynasts Mithrapata and Perikles in the early-mid 4th century BC. The coins of Mithrapata came first, depicting on their reverse the profile portrait of a man with distinctive elderly features. Through the relative chronology established in L. Mildenberg's die study, one can even see the portrait become more aged as time progressed, reflecting the realism that had been captured in these issues. The coins of Perikles, Mithrapata's successor, continue this trend, but also have two innovations that set them at the pinnacle of classical portraiture. First, the portrait is moved to the obverse of the coin, emphasizing the importance of the individual. Second, and most prominently, the portrait is not in the traditional profile, but in a dramatic facing state. Obviously influenced by Kimon's facing Arethusa-head coinage at Syracuse (see lot 55, above), these depict Perikles looking out from the surface of the coin with a serene countenance and his hair flowing around him as if blown by the wind. This depiction captures the essence of the earlier idealized portraits, conveying to the viewer a sense that Perikles was more than a mere man, but retaining the realism in its individualized features. Interestingly, both Mithrapata and Perikles are depicted without any sort of satrapal headgear, which was always included in earlier Lycian portraits, perhaps indicating that they had declared their independence from the Persian king. These astonishing developments in portraiture came to an abrupt end in Lycia when Maussollos of Caria invaded the region circa 360 BC.
The final winners of all CNG 120 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 11-12 May 2022. CNG 120 – Session Two – Greek Coinage (Part 2) through Roman Provincial Coinage will be held Wednesday afternoon, 11 May 2022 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.
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