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Roma, 8.12.2011
Egregio
Lettore,
premetto che non mi occupo solitamente di monetazione
greca. Ciò nondimeno, nell'intento di assecondare
comunque la sua richiesta, senza pretesa di rigore
scientifico, ho raccolto, attraverso una ricerca nel
web, alcuni elementi che di seguito sottopongo alla
sua attenzione:
Tetradrammo1,
Zecca di Camarina2,
425-405 a. C., Westermark & Jenkins 143
Descrizione sommaria:
D. Testa di Herakles barbato a sinistra con leonté.
Davanti e sotto ΚAMAP-IN-A-ΙOΝ.3
R. Athena in quadriga al galoppo a destra incoronata
da una Nike in volo a sinistra. In esergo colonna4.
La ricerca nel web di monete di tipologia simile a
quella in esame ha prodotto i seguenti risultati:
- http://www.magnagraecia.nl/coins/Area_V_map/Kamarina_map/descrKamaWJ_143.html
tetradrachm of Kamarina, 425-405 BC Obv. quadriga
driven by Athena wearing Phrygian helmet, Nike
above; in ex. Ionic column, signature ExE below
Rev. head Herakles in lion's skin; text
KAMAPINAION Westermark & Jenkins 143.5 17.55g
27,8mm P.R. Franke and M. Hirmer (1964,
1972) Die Griechische Münze (no. 148) private
collection.
- http://www.ukauctioneers.com/auction_houses/361/sales/3009?page=6
Lot 127 The Prospero Collection of Ancient Greek
Coins. SICILY. Kamarina (c.425-405 B.C.), Silver
Tetradrachm, 16.80g. Signed by Eche.... Athena,
wearing a long chiton and a Phrygian helmet,
driving a galloping quadriga to right, she holds a
kentron in her right hand and the reins in her
left, Nike flies above to left to crown her, an
Ionic column and the signature EXE (retrograde)
(both off flan) in the exergue. Rev.
KAMAP-IN-A-ION, bearded head of Herakles facing to
left, wearing a lion's skin headdress, light
traces of the signature EXE (retrograde) above
(Westermark & Jenkins 143 (O5/R11); SNG Lloyd
868 (these dies); Rizzo pl. 5, 10 (these dies);
Kraay -Hirmer pl. 53, 148 (these dies)). Wonderful
style, a little softly-struck on the obverse,
cabinet tone, obverse very fine, reverse good very
fine and very rare. - The estimates are in USD $
6,500.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=31503
Source Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction
Triton VII (12.01.2004) Lot 51 ( «
| » ) Price 6250 USD Description SICILY,
Kamarina. Circa 425-405 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.29
gm). Obverse die signed by Exakestidas. Estimate
$5000 SICILY, Kamarina. Circa 425-405 BC. AR
Tetradrachm (17.29 gm). Obverse die signed by
Exakestidas. Athena driving galloping quadriga
right, holding kentron in right hand, reins in
both; Nike flying left above, placing wreath tied
with a fillet on Athena's head; two amphorae in
exergue connected by a line; EXAKESTIDAS
(signature) on exergual line / KAMAPINAION,
beardless head of Herakles left, wearing lion's
skin headdress. Westermark & Jenkins 149
(O8/R15); SNG ANS 1205; SNG Lloyd 871 (same dies);
SNG Copenhagen 163; SNG Lockett 725 (same dies);
Boston MFA 260 (same dies). Good VF, shallow bump
on cheek. ($5000). In an unusual occurance, both
somatypes of the demigod Herakles appear
contemporaneously on the tetradrachms of Kamarina.
There is the visage of the weary warrior, bearded
with a brow creased by the cares of the world, and
the mouth turned down in a scowl. Contrasting with
this is the portrait of Herakles as a young man,
beardless and fresh-faced, with an air of
dispassionate strength. These portraits follow the
two traditions of the myth of Herakles. The first,
and most likely the oldest, is the bearded head.
Here, Herakles is a demi-god, son of Zeus and a
mortal woman, and the product of the absorption by
the Greeks of earlier traditions from the east,
ranging back in time to the Punic divinity Melkart
and even further, to Gilgamesh of ancient
Babylonia. Exakestidas, on the other hand, taps
into a purely Greek concept of the hero as a
perfect man, young, strong, and handsome - a
kouros. The two threads interweave to create a
noble protector, enjoying the favor and protection
of the gods as well as the strength of his own
arms.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=33795
Source Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction
Mail Bid Sale 72 (14.06.2006) Lot 182 (
« | » ) Price 5500 USD Description
SICILY, Kamarina. Circa 425-405 BC. AR Tetradrachm
(17.37 g, 3h). Obverse die signed by Exakestidas.
Athena driving galloping quadriga right, holding
kentron and reins; above, Nike flying left,
placing wreath tied with fillet on Athena's head;
two amphorae in exergue connected by line;
signature EX[AKESTIDAS] on exergual line / Head of
Herakles left, wearing lion skin. Westermark &
Jenkins 149.19 (O8/R15) = Nanteuil 265 = Pozzi 401
(this coin); SNG ANS 1205; SNG Lloyd 871 (same
dies). VF, toned, light cleaning scratches under
tone on reverse. Well centered and struck on a
broad flan. Ex Hess-Leu 36 (17 April 1968), lot
64; H. de Nanteuil Collection, 265; Prof. S. Pozzi
Collection (Naville-Ars Classica I, 14 March
1921), lot 401. Estimate: $5000.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=45289
Source Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction
Mail Bid Sale 79 (17.09.2008) Lot 70 (
« | » ) Price 7000 USD Description
SICILY, Kamarina. Circa 425-405 BC. AR Tetradrachm
(17.08 g, 6h). Obverse die signed by Exakestidas.
Athena driving galloping quadriga right; above,
Nike flying left, placing wreath tied with fillet
on Athena's head; in exergue, two amphoras
connected by line; signature EΞA[KEΣTIΔAΣ] on
exergual line / Head of Herakles left, wearing
lion's skin headdress. Cf. Westermark &
Jenkins 149 (O8/R-; unlisted rev. die); SNG ANS
1205; SNG Lloyd 871 (same obv. die); SNG Lockett
725 (same obv. die); Boston MFA 260 (same obv.
die); Basel 313 = Jameson 523 (same obv. die). VF,
attractively toned, struck with slightly worn
obverse die. Bold head of Herakles. Ex Classical
Numismatic Group 70 (21 September 2005), lot 43.
Estimate: 6000 USD.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=89121
Source Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction
Mail Bid Sale 67 (22.09.2004) Lot 270 (
« | » ) Price 3775 USD Description
SICILY, Kamarina. Circa 425-405 BC. AR Tetradrachm
(17.29 gm). Obverse die signed by Exakestidas.
Estimate $2500. SICILY, Kamarina. Circa 425-405
BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.29 gm). Obverse die signed
by Exakestidas. Athena driving galloping quadriga
right, holding kentron and reins; above, Nike
flying left, placing wreath tied with fillet on
Athena's head; two amphorae in exergue connected
by line; signature EXAKESTIDAS on exergual line /
Head of Herakles left, wearing lion's skin
headdress. Westermark & Jenkins 149.21
(O8/R15) = Basel 313 = Jameson 523 (this coin);
SNG ANS 1205; SNG Lloyd 871 (same dies); SNG
Copenhagen 163; SNG Lockett 725 (same dies);
Boston MFA 260 (same dies). VF, attractively
toned, well-centered and struck with a bold
signature. ($2500). From the Tony Hardy
Collection. Ex Sammlung Ludwig (Numismatica Ars
Classica 13, 8 October 1998), lot 313; Hess-Leu
(27 March 1956), lot 75; R. Jameson Collection,
523; Sir Arthur Evans Collection.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=90506
Source Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction
Triton X (09.01.2007) Lot 73 ( «
| » ) Price 15000 USD Description SICILY,
Kamarina. Circa 425-405 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.15
g, 8h). Obverse die signed by Exakestidas. Athena
driving galloping quadriga right, holding kentron
in right hand, reins in both; above, Nike flying
left, holding in her extended hands a wreath tied
with fillet which she places on Athena's head; two
amphorae in exergue connected by line; signature
EXAKESTIDAS on exergue line / KAMARINAION, head of
Herakles left, wearing lion skin headdress.
Westermark & Jenkins 149 (O8/R15); SNG ANS
1205; SNG Lloyd 871; BMC 14 = Rizzo pl. V, 11;
Boston MFA 260; Jameson 523; Kraay & Hirmer
152 (all but ANS from the same dies). EF, gray
tone with a hint of iridescence, minor die rust.
Wonderful strike with full types visible.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=176452
Source Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction
Triton V (15.01.2002) Lot 1176 ( «
| » ) Price 5500 USD Description SICILY,
Kamarina Estimate $7500. SICILY, Kamarina. Circa
425-405 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.95 gm). Athena
driving galloping quadriga right, holding kentron
in right hand, reins in left; Nike flying above
and placing open wreath on Athena's head, grain in
exergue / KAMAPINAION, youthful head of Herakles
left, wearing lion's skin headdress. Westermark
and Jenkins 147 (O7/R15 - this coin); SNG ANS 1206
(same dies); SNG Munich 402 var. (same obverse
die); Jameson 525 var. (same obverse die).
Attractively toned, near EF, finely engraved
reverse die. ($7500) From the William N. Rudman
Collection. Ex Triton III (30 November - 1
December 1999), lot 199; Numismatic Fine Arts
Auction (8 December 1992), lot 6; Nelson Bunker
Hunt Collection, Part III (Sotheby's, 4 December
1990), lot 20 (realized $12,100). Although not
signed, this obverse die is attributed to the
master artist Exakestidas.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=251577
Source Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Auction
Price 14500 USD Description 752531. Sold For
$14500 SICILY, Kamarina. Circa 425-405 BC. AR
Tetradrachm (24mm, 17.12 gm, 8h). Obverse die
signed by Exakestidas. Athena driving galloping
quadriga right, holding kentron in right hand,
reins in both; Nike flying left above, placing
wreath tied with a fillet on Athena's head; two
amphorae in exergue connected by a line;
EXAKESTIDAS (signature) on exergual line /
KAMAPINAION, beardless head of Herakles left,
wearing lion's skin headdress. Westermark &
Jenkins 149 (O8/R15); SNG ANS 1205; SNG Lloyd 871
(same dies); SNG Copenhagen 163; SNG Lockett 725
(same dies); Boston MFA 260 (same dies).Toned EF.
Very rare. In an unusual occurance, both somatypes
of the demigod Herakles appear contemporaneously
on the tetradrachms of Kamarina. There is the
visage of the weary warrior, bearded with a brow
creased by the cares of the world, and the mouth
turned down in a scowl. Contrasting with this is
the portrait of Herakles as a young man, beardless
and fresh-faced, with an air of dispassionate
strength. These portraits follow the two
traditions of the myth of Herakles. The first, and
most likely the oldest, is the bearded head. Here
Herakles is a demi-god, son of Zeus and a mortal
woman, and the product of the absorption by the
Greeks of earlier traditions from the east,
ranging back in time to the Punic divinity Melkart
and even further, to Gilgamesh of ancient
Babylonia. Exakesidas, on the other hand, taps
into a purely Greek concept of the hero as a
perfect man, young, strong, and handsome - a
koros. The two threads interweave to create a
noble protector, enjoying the favor and protection
of the gods as well as the strength of his own
arms.
- http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=516480
Source Roma Numismatics Limited Auction 2
(02.10.2011) Lot 75 ( « | » )
Price 3200 GBP (~4985 USD) Description Sicily,
Kamarina AR Tetradrachm. Circa 425-405 BC. Obverse
die signed by Exakestidas. Athena driving
galloping quadriga right, holding kentron in right
hand, reins in both; Nike flying left above,
holding in her extended hands a wreath tied with
fillet which she places on Athena’s head; two
amphorae in exergue connected by line; signature
EXAKESTIDAS on exergual line / Head of Herakles
left, wearing lion skin headdress; KAMARINAION
before. Westermark & Jenkins 149 (O8/R15); SNG
ANS 1205; SNG Lloyd 871; BMC 14 = Rizzo pl. V, 11;
Boston MFA 260; Jameson 523; Kraay & Hirmer
152 (all but ANS from the same dies). 17.22g,
27mm, 4h. Rare. Very Fine. Ex Gorny & Mosch
164, March 2008, lot 50; Ex Künker 94, 2004, lot
299. Following an extremely difficult start,
wherein the city was founded by Syracuse in 599
BC, then destroyed by its mother-city, refounded
by Gela, destroyed again and then refounded by
Gela yet again, Kamarina attained a relatively
high degree of prosperity that is reflected in a
brief issue of magnificent tetradrachms, including
a few signed issues by the artist Exakestidas.
This coin dates to a short period of two decades
when Kamarina had reached the zenith of its wealth
and splendour, before it was razed to the ground
by the Carthaginians in 405 BC. Immediately prior
to the city’s destruction, the people were
afflicted with a mysterious disease. The marsh of
Kamarina, which acted as a natural defensive
barrier, was suspected as the source of the
illness. The city’s oracle was consulted over the
popular idea of draining the marsh to end the
affliction; the oracle advised against this, and
suggested instead that the disease would pass in
time. Nevertheless, under pressure, the city’s
leaders decided to drain the marsh against the
oracle’s advice. Shortly thereafter the
Carthaginians advanced across the drained marsh
and destroyed the city.
Veniamo ora agli aspetti peculiari del campione in
esame. Si è detto nella nota 1
che la moneta di figura, se d'argento, presenta
caratteristiche fisiche nella norma. Tuttavia lascia
perplessi lo stile grossolano del tipo del rovescio e,
quanto al dritto, le lettere inusualmente grandi della
leggenda. Alla luce di quanto osservato, pur nei
limiti di una valutazione a distanza, ritengo che la
moneta sia una riproduzione moderna.
Un saluto cordiale.
Giulio De Florio
-------------------------------
Note:
(1) Tetradrammo
(argento). Raccolgo in tabella le caratteristiche
fisiche dei tetradrammi della tipologia di figura
presenti nei link sopra indicati:
| Riferimenti |
Peso (g.) |
Asse di conio (ore) |
Diametro (mm) |
| Link1 |
17,55 |
- |
27,8 |
| Link2 |
16,80 |
- |
- |
| Link3 |
17,29 |
- |
- |
| Link4 |
17,37 |
3 |
- |
| Link5 |
17,08 |
6 |
- |
| Link6 |
17,29 |
- |
- |
| Link7 |
17,15 |
8 |
- |
| Link8 |
16,95 |
- |
- |
| Link9 |
17,12 |
8 |
24 |
| Link10 |
17,22 |
4 |
27 |
Dalla tabella si evince che le caratteristiche
fisiche del tetradrammo di figura comunicate dal
lettore (17g, 24mm, 12h) non si discostano da quelle
dei tetradrammi d'epoca di pari tipologia.
(2) Camarina fu una colonia di
Siracusa, fondata verso il 599 a. C. su una collina
tra le foci dell'Oanis e dell'Ipparis (l'odierno
Rifriscolaro - v. link)
sulla costa della Sicilia a sud di Gela. In seguito
ad una rivolta per l'autonomia fu distrutta da
Siracusa attorno al 552. Ricostruita nel 495 e
ricolonizzata da Ippocrate, tiranno di Gela, fu
distrutta intorno al 484 da Gelone, tiranno di
Siracusa. Al decennio che precede la distruzione si
devono le prime litre arcaiche in argento (v. link).
Nel 461 fu ricostruita come colonia di Gela e
godette di grande prosperità sino al 405 quando i
suoi abitanti dovettero abbandonarla sotto la
minaccia cartaginese. La quarta ode olimpica di
Pindaro e la successiva registrano la vittoria di
Psaumide Camarinense nella corsa di carri del 456 o
del 452, vittoria agonistica che Poole (Coins of
Camarina, pag. 2) ritiene sia commemorata sui
tetradrammi battuti dalla città nella seconda metà
del 5° secolo (v. figura). Nuovamente ricostruita ad
opera di Timoleonte, Camarina fu distrutta dai
Romani durante la seconda guerra punica nel 258 a.
C. (notizie tratte da Barclay Head - v. link).
Alla distruzione seguì una nuova ricostruzione che
dette vita alla città repubblicana (v. link).
(3) ΚAMAPINAΙOΝ (etnico= .. dei
Camarinesi, moneta battuta nel nome del popolo di
Camarina), con Herakles che indossa la leonté (pelle
leonina), in ricordo della prima delle dodici
fatiche di Ercole, l'uccisione del leone di Nemea,
la cui pelle costituiva uno schermo invulnerabile,
talché, solo strangolandola, fu possibile sopprimere
la belva.
(4) Nel sito sulla monetazione
della Magna Grecia di cui al link
sono descritte alcune varianti del tetradramma
"Herakles a sinistra con leonté/quadriga al galoppo
a destra, con Nike" che si differenziano tra loro
per lo sviluppo della leggenda del dritto, per il
simbolo in esergo e qualche particolare:
Westermark & Jenkins 143 Herakles barbato a s. /
sotto e davanti ΚAMAPINAΙOΝ (v. link)
/ Quadriga a d., in esergo colonna.
Westermark & Jenkins 187 Herakles imberbe a s./
sotto e davanti ΚAMAPINAΙOΝ, davanti ramo d'ulivo
(v. link)
/ Quadriga a d., in esergo pesce. .
Westermark & Jenkins 147 >Herakles imberbe a
s. / davanti ΚAMAPINAΙOΝ (v. link)
/ Quadriga a d., in esergo chicco di grano.
Westermark & Jenkins 149 Herakles imberbe a s. /
davanti ΚAMAPINAΙOΝ (v. link)
/ Quadriga a d., in esergo due anfore. Westermark
& Jenkins 152 Herakles imberbe a s., davanti
arco (v. link)
/ Quadriga a d., in esergo due anfore, sotto
ΚAMAPINAΙOΝ. |
