MACEDON. Akanthos. Circa 478-465 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 27 mm, 17.48 g). Lion to right, attacking bull, collapsing to left with head raised and turned back to right; above, Θ to the right 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. BMC 3 = Desneux 79 ( this obverse die ). HGC 3, 383. Tselekas Period C, Group 19, 205 (O182/R185?). Old cabinet patina. Nearly extremely fine.

Ex Hess-Divo 329, November 2015, 44, Chaponniere & Hess-Divo 18-19 May 2010, 80, Waddell FPL 101, November 2005, 44, Leu 72, May 1998, 160.

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.