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THE FACING HEAD COINS OF: AMPHIPOLIS |
Amphipolis issued its civic silver coinage in the second quarter of the fourth century BC. The obverse type is a laureate facing head, usually depicting Apollo but sometimes Artemis. The reverse usually shows a square frame surrounding a race torch. The coins were produced annually, and an effort was made to distinguish each year’s issue, generally by varying the angle, hairdressing, facial features, and/or expression of the facing head. Apollo is portrayed in various ways: as fierce and powerful, or serenely Olympian, or delicate and youthful. A few of the dies took their inspiration from major sculpture. The result is the most diverse portrait gallery of facing heads on any ancient coinage. Some of the facing heads of Amiphipolis are among the most beautiful coins ever made, representing the pinnacle of the ancient die engraver’s art. Some better examples of Amphipolis facing head coinage are presented below.
Reference: C.C. Lorber, Amphipolis, The Civic Coinage in Silver and Gold (Los Angeles, 1990).
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369/8 BC. AR Tetradrachm. Lorber 4b (this coin). Tkalec AG, Auction 2001, 19 February 2001, Lot number: 59. |
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368/7 BC. AR Tetradrachm. Lorber 10b (this coin). Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 29, 11 May 2005, Lot number: 144. Ex Leu 36, 1985, 101; Vinchon November 1994, and from the Duke of Gotha collection. |
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365/4 BC. AR Tetradrachm. Image from Lorber, PI. 21, 16a. (This facing head depicts Artemis). Online source: Bulletin on Counterfeits, Vol. 17 No. I. (This coin is a genuine example). |
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364/3 BC. AR Tetradrachm. Lorber 18b (this coin). (This facing head likely depicts Artemis). Source of image: NumisWiki. |
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362/1 BC. Lorber 25b (this coin). Image Source: Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, University of Glasgow. |
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358/7 BC. AR Tetradrachm. Lorber 34a (this coin). Fitzwilliam Museum. |
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357/6 BC. AR Tetradrachm. Lorber 36b (this coin). Source of image: www.moneymuseum.com (Mildenberg's "Dream Collection"). |
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357/6 BC. AR Tetradrachm. Lorber 43a (this coin). Leu Numismatik AG, Auction 81, 16 May 2001, Lot number: 158. |
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356/5 BC. AR Tetradrachm. Lorber 44b (this coin). LHS Numismatik AG, Auction 95, 25 October 2005, Lot number: 559. |
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