AKARNANIA, Federal Coinage (Akarnanian Confederacy). Circa 250-200 BC. AR Stater (27mm, 9.90 g, 3h). Leukas mint; Lykourgas, magistrate. Near EF.

Triton XXVII
Lot: 173. Estimated: $ 3 000

Greek, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 7 500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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AKARNANIA, Federal Coinage (Akarnanian Confederacy). Circa 250-200 BC. AR Stater (27mm, 9.90 g, 3h). Leukas mint; Lykourgas, magistrate. Head of river god Achelöos right; [ΛY]KOYPΓOΣ upward to left / Apollo Aktios, nude, holding bow in extended right hand, seated left; monogram to left, AKAPNANΩN to right. Imhoof-Blumer, Akarnaniens 23; BCD Akarnania 18 (same dies); HGC 4, 721. Attractive cabinet tone, minor die wear as usual, graffiti on reverse. Near EF. Perfectly centered. Powerful head of Achelöos.

Ex New York Sale XX (7 January 2009), lot 30; Waddell 79 (2003), lot 32; Numismatic Fine Arts Winter MBS (15 January 1982), lot 163.

Founded in the fifth century BC, the Akarnanian Confederacy was composed from time to time of a varying number of the local towns. In 438 BC, the Confederacy allied itself with Athens, providing it with support during the Peloponnesian War, while at the same time expanding its own control in the region. During this period the Confederacy began to issue coinage, which, like the coins of many of the other Greek confederacies, were struck in the city-states of its leading members. The obverse of this federal coinage depicts the head of the river-god Achelöos, the eponymous patron of the river which formed the natural boundary between Akarnania and Aitolia. The reverse may depict Apollo Aktiakos, whose temple was located on the promontory overlooking the Gulf of Ambrakia and which may have served as the meeting place of the confederacy’s members.

During the fourth century BC, the Confederacy shifted its alliances between Sparta and Athens as they struggled to control Greece. By the latter part of the century, however, the Akarnanian Confederacy was allied with Macedon. In 314 BC, it sided with Kassander in the Diadoch Wars. Periodic border conflicts with the Aitolians resulted in the loss of Akarnanian border territories and, although an agreement was reached in 263/2 BC, by 250 BC, at about the same time this quarter stater was minted, the Akarnanian Confederacy was divided between the Aitolians and the Molossians in Epeiros. In 230 BC the Akarnanian Confederacy enjoyed a brief revival, but after the Battle of Pydna in 168 BC, information about it disappears from the historical record.

The final winners of all Triton XXVII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 9-10 January 2024.

Triton XXVII – Session One – Lot 1-337 will be held Tuesday morning, 9 January 2024 beginning at 9:00 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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