MACEDON, Mende. Circa 460-423 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 16.60 g, 11h). VF.

CNG Feature Auction 124
Lot: 98. Estimated: $ 3 000

Greek, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 6 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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MACEDON, Mende. Circa 460-423 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 16.60 g, 11h). Inebriated Dionysos, wearing chiton draped from his waist, holding in right hand a kantharos propped on his right knee, reclining left, head right, on the back of an ass standing right; before, bird perched right upon branch / MEN-ΔA-I-ON within shallow incuse around quadripartite square in linear border ornamented with dots; all within incuse square. Cf. Noe, Mende 84/85 (for same obv./rev. dies); AMNG III 20; HGC 3, 545; cf. SNG ANS 346/347 (for same obv./rev. dies); Dewing 1055 (same obv. die). Toned, light smoothing in fields, faint cleaning marks. VF.

Ex Ronald Cohen Collection (Triton VIII, 11 January 2005), lot 122; Gorny & Mosch 112 (17 October 2001), lot 4071.

The Dionysiac types of Mende proclaim it as a famous wine producing city, as attested by its amphoras that have been found throughout the Mediterranean. On this delightful coin Dionysos, who rules wine and winemaking, is shown being carried home drunk from a symposium, a representation of careless joy which links the world of men with the Olympians – at least until the morning.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 124 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 19-20 September 2023. This lot is in Session One, which will begin 19 September at 9 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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