Attractive in Hand
KINGS of MACEDON. Demetrios I Poliorketes. 306-283 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28.5mm, 16.87 g, 10h). Uncertain mint in Macedon. Struck circa 291-290 BC. Diademed and horned head right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΔHMHTPIOY, Poseidon Pelagaios, draped from the waist, seated left on rock, holding aphlaston in extended right hand and grounded trident in left; M to inner left. Newell 135, dies CXXXII/– (unlisted rev. die); HGC 3, 1013; Jameson 1006 (same obv. die). Iridescent tone, underlying luster, minor marks, brushed, tiny spot of die rust on obverse. EF.
Ex Heritage 3088 (6 November 2020), lot 34029.
Demetrios I Poliorketes was the son of one of Alexander's greatest generals, Antigonos I Monophthalmos. Antigonos was arguably the strongest of Alexander’s followers, the Diadochs, at one time ruling over all of Alexander's eastern territories from Asia Minor to Baktria, except for Egypt. Antigonos’ success led him to be the first Diadoch to crown himself king, in 306 BC. By that time, Demetrios was an active participant in his father's wars and was also crowned king along with his father. Fearing Antigonos’ growing power, the other Diadochs allied themselves against him, and finally defeated and killed him at the battle of Ipsos in 301 BC. Following Ipsos, Demetrios continued to battle the other Diadochs, and although he won numerous victories, he was usually unable to maintain his control over his conquests afterward. His epithet, Poliorketes ('besieger of cities') was earned following his siege of Rhodes. While that siege ultimately failed, it featured a number of elaborate siege engines which had become a hallmark of Demetrios' style of warfare. Demetrios was eventually abandoned by his army, and he subsequently surrendered to Seleukos I of Syria in 288 BC. Demetrios died in captivity five years later.
