EUBOEA. Eretria. Ca. 500 BC. AR tetradrachm (25mm, 17.25 gm, 6h). NGC VF S 5/5 - 4/5, marks. Cow standing right, head reverted, about to scratch nose with right hindhoof, swallow standing right on her back; E below belly / Octopus in shallow incuse square. BMC 21 var (cow left). SNG Lockett 1791. Extremely rare. Ex Bank Leu, Auction 42 (1987), lot 228; Bank Leu, Auction 31 (1966), lot 309; Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia (1866-1933) Collection (Naville & Cie, Auction 4, June 1922), lot 546. Eretria was the second city of the island of Euboea, the first being Chalcis. The cow scratching itself with its hoof on the obverse was symbolic of the cattle for which the island was famed. The octopus first appeared as a reverse type toward the end of the 6th century BC and may be regarded as the civic emblem of Eretria. Themistocles is credited with the saying of the Eretrians as "having an octopus where their heart should be." Eretria assisted the Greek cities in the 'Ionian Revolt' against Persian rule in 499-494 BC, which led to revenge against the city by Darius in 490 BC.

HID99912102018