MACEDON. Akanthos. Circa 478-465 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 30 mm, 17.12 g). Lion to right with curled tail, attacking bull, collapsing to left with head raised; above, Θ to the left of the bull's horn; below bull, exergual line of pellets between two plain lines and with a floral ornament below. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square with granulated surfaces. Boston 519. De Luynes 1535. Desneux 54 ( this reverse die ) and Du Chastel 190. Tselekas period C, 147 var. (O-/R135, unrecorded obverse die ). With a splendidly 'heraldic' obverse, perfectly centered and most attractive. Extremely fine.

From an old European collection, acquired from Mario Ratto in 1942, and possibly from the Hierissos hoard of 1934 (IGCH 357).

The scene of a lion attacking a bull is an age old Oriental symbol of power and was probably brought to Akanthos during the Persian invasions of the early 5th century BC. It is equally familiar from the earlier gold and electrum coinage of Kroisos and the later silver staters of Tarsos.