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Ancient Coins
Enlargement
1733 Caria, Myndos. Silver Drachm (4.05 g), mid 2nd century BC
. Theodoros, magistrate. Laureate head of Sarapis right.
Reverse:
,
headdress of Isis atop two grain ears; in left field, magistrate' s name:
; below, thunderbolt. Cf. Myndos Hoard 78-9 (A28/P-); SNG
Keckman 236 (same obv. die).
Very Scarce.
Toned.
Very Fine
.
Estimate Value ............................................................................................................................................................................ $250 - 300
From the Hanbery Collection.
On all published examples, the ethnic and magistrate' s names are transposed.
Enlargement
1734 Carian Satraps. Pixodaros. Silver Didrachm (6.62 g), ca. 341/0-336/5 BC
. Halikarnassos. Laureate head of Apollo facing slightly right.
Reverse:
, Zeus Labraundos standing right, holding labrys and scepter. SNG Kayhan 891-2; SNG von Aulock 2375-6; SNG Copenha-
gen 597. Wonderful style. Well struck with a beautiful light iridescent tone.
Extremely Fine
.
Estimate Value .......................................................................................................................................................................$1,000 - 1,400
From the Hanbery Collection; Purchased privately from Dr. Arnold Saslow Rare Coins & Classical Arts in 1987.
Although the types of this coin were inherited by Pixodaros from his brothers, Maussollos and Idrieus who ruled Caria before him, the style of
Apollo on this coin owes a great deal to the contemporary facing Helios head of Rhodian coinage. This is perhaps not overly surprising since the
island of Rhodes was technically part of the Carian satrapy and the Hekatomnid dynasty had a history of cooperation with the Rhodians for their
mutual benefit. The reverse type depicts Zeus Labraundos, a local deity worshipped at a shrine near the Aegean coast of Caria. His sanctuary was
traditionally favored by the Hekatomnid dynasty and was lavishly expanded and decorated under its patronage. The image of Zeus Labraundos
may in fact represent the lost cult statue donated by Hekatomnos, the founder of the dynasty and father of Pixodaros. This impressive gift is noted
in an inscription from the sanctuary (A. Westholm,
Labraunda I.2. The Architecture of the Hieron
[1963], no. 6).Despite the fact that his coinage
followed the established pattern of his predecessors, Pixodaros had his own claim to fame as the almost father-in-law of Alexander the Great. The
proposed marriage between Alexander and Pixodaros' daughter fell through when Philip II discovered that the arrangement was being made
behind his back. Philip had intended Alexander' s half-brother Arrhidaios to cement a marriage alliance with Pixodaros.