AR Tetradrachm (291-290 BC) KINGDOM OF MACEDONIA - DEMETRIOS POLIORKETES, 306-283 BC - EUBOIA - Chalkis xf-

weight 16,91gr. | silver Ø 30mm.

obv. Diademed and horned head of Demetrios I right
rev. Nude Poseidon standing left, right foot set on rock | he rests

his right arm on thigh and holds trident in his left hand, ΔHMHTPIOY

and K in field to left, BAΣIΛEΩΣ and burch of grapes in field to right

About 291 BC, Demetrios replaced the Alexandrine coin types in use in Macedonia with his own head, adorned with bull′s horns. The bull was sacred to Poseidon, his divine protector, and the horns symbolize the apotheosis of the king himself. This was a significant change, which inaugurated a long tradition of numismatic portraits of monarchs. This innovation was such that, according to Roman historians, Demetrios subjects were scandalized by his hubris, and these coins precipitated his downfall. The tetradrachms of this type were issued in large numbers from circa 290 BC in preparation for Demetrios′ invasion of Asia Minor. The invasion ended disastrously and Demetrios was imprisoned by Seleukos he died in captivity in 283 BC.

On the obverse is a youthful, idealized head of Demetrios with the royal diadem and the horns of a bull, the animal sacred to Demetrios′ patron deity, Poseidon. With these aspects of divinity Demetrios became the first of Alexander′s successors to assimilate elements of Alexander′s deified portrait and the first living ruler to portray himself as a divinity on his coins. The bull′s horns were intended to suggest that he stood in the same relationship to Poseidon as Alexander had to Zeus Ammon. The portrait is individualized, but the upward gaze and flowing hair are meant to evoke the image of Alexander.

On the reverse is Demetrios′ patron deity, Poseidon, apparently inspired by the original of the Lateran Poseidon, a statue usually attributed to Lysippos, the court sculptor of Alexander. Demetrios′ association with Poseidon dated to his naval victory off Cyprus in 306 BC, after which he considered himself lord of the sea.

Amazing coin with splendid portrait of good style and a very
powerful and strongly muscled representation of Herakles. Rare.

♦ MASTERPIECE ♦

SNG.Copenhagen - | Newell 150 | Weber collection-  McClean-
Meydancikkale 2585 | SNG.München - | HGC 3, no. 1014f |
SNG. Alpha Bank 952 | cf. Sear 6764 R
xf-

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