Description
| Greek. Lesbos, Methymna. Tetrobol, c. 500-450 BC. | |
| Obverse: | Hoplite kneeling left, holding a shield in the left and a spear in the right hand. |
| Reverse: | Forepart of horse with rider right in dotted square incusum. |
| Dimensions: | AR, 2.60 g, 17 mm, 8h. |
| References: | HGC 6, 887; SNG von Aulock 1738; SNG München 700; SNG Copenhagen 346. |
| Condition: | Rough surface, minor die-break on reverse, nice toning on obverse. Very fine. |
| Provenance: | From a private French collection, Acquired from Denis F. Grotjohann on 12th February 2013, Ex Roma Numismatics IV (2012), 1588. |
| Comment: | Methymna was a city at the north coast of the island Lesbos and one of five poleis on Lesbos. Within the ancient history of the city many conflicts with the biggest polis on Lesbos, Mytilene, happened. Methymna was part of the Delian League, but did not had to pay tribute, but provided ships.
The military power is also represented on this coin. The image of an hoplite is quite unusual on an Aegean island. They usually appear in Pamphylia and Cilicia. |
