Breaking a long dry spell in (fine) style: First Meris tetradrachm

[TIF]

MACEDONIA, under Roman rule.  Amphipolis mint.
First Meris, ca. 167-148 BCE (174/3 - 158 BCE per Propokov, for this reverse)
AR Tetradrachm, 16.88 gm 
Obv: Macedonian shield with central boss depicting diademed and draped bust of Artemis right, bow and quiver at shoulder.
Rev: Legend MAKEΔONΩN ΠPΩTHΣ around club; above, N; below, HP monogram; all within oak-wreath; to left, thunderbolt 
Ref:  Prokopov Silver 90 (Rarity: RRR+); AMNG III.1 p. 55, 166; HGC 3.1 1103; BMC Macedonia -; cf. SNG Ashmolean 3300 (controls reversed)
From the "ZZS" Collection, Goldberg Auction 142 lot 427, 17 Oct 2024; Earlier from Goldberg Auction 91, lot 1729; previous, private purchase from Tom Cederlind

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It has been an entire year since I last won a coin at auction!  This type has been on my wish list since first seeing them.  Technically, it’s not my first First Meris… I bid and won one in a CNG auction but returned it. The returned CNG coin had a youthful portrait of Artemis– she looks almost pixie-ish with a cute upturned nose.  It’s a rather common obverse die– many examples are found in ACsearch… many high-grade examples.

Here’s the one I won and returned 10 years ago:
 

 

Why did I return it?  I just didn’t like it in hand.  It was very underweight, less 15 gm, and in-hand, the coin was very flat, lacking the wonderful domed relief that is more typical of the type.  It wasn’t an inexpensive purchase, relatively speaking (hammer $750), and CNG was very gracious to allow me to return it simply because I didn’t like it in hand– the first and only time I’ve returned a coin. They sold it again a few months later and it brought an even higher hammer.  All’s well that ends well? 😄

 

Over the years I bid on more of this type, always chasing the pixie-ish portrait obverse die which for some reason I was fixated on, and they just kept getting more expensive.  I never could bring myself to bid what it took to win again, even as recently as earlier this year I failed to acquire the type yet again, dropping out long before the hammer of $1600.

 

I started looking at the nuances of various portraits in this series and came to appreciate other types and started considering getting one from a different obverse die.  When I saw the coin that is now mine, I just had a feeling that it was the one for me.  Fortunately I didn’t have to bid to the moon, although it wasn’t inexpensive.  Worth it, totally.  

 

These coins are not uncommon and there are scads of dies and a range of styles.  Some of the portraits are generally regarded as more artistic.  I think mine is of very fine style, but there is at least one obverse die that is inarguably better and probably regarded as the finest.  Coinpal @zumbly is fortunate to own one of those and hopefully he will post his coin here when he has a moment (and you won’t believe the absolute steal of a price he paid for his!).

An example of that best-of-type coin happened to sell a few days before the Goldberg tet.  I didn’t even bid because it was already way too high for me before the auction started, eventually hammering for $5600 US (Nomos 34, lot 81):

 

So gorgeous!  Congratulations to the winner of this beauty.

 

 

Here are a couple more examples of that wonderful obverse die… bask in their beauty 😄.

From CNG 121, 06.10.2022:

 

From Roma 5, 23.03.2013:

 

In trying to put a finger on why the previous three coins (and mine) are more appealing than the average of the series, one of the subtle things that makes a difference is the particularly well-executed dotted circle around the portrait, combined with several millimeters of blank space before the solid line encircling the dotted border of the portrait. The care and craftsmanship of those borders is superior to most others in the series and I think having that extra blank space sets off the portrait nicely.  Of course the portraits themselves are more artistic that some, and rendering in finer detail.

 

@Curtisimo has an absolutely lovely example that has some great toning.  I think the portrait on his coin is similar to the three above, although not the same die.  

 

One very slight negative about the three fine style coins show above (and mine), compared to many others in the series, is the lack of dramatic doming.  Some First Meris Artemis tets have very pronounced doming and I find that very appealing– @AncientCoinnoisseur's tet, for example.

 

I hope you didn't click on this thread hoping for great scholarship-- I stuck to the completely superficial.  😆  @Curtisimo has a nice and brief blurb about the history of these tets if you are feeling unsatisfied 😉.  

….

This coin will definitely make my 2024 Top Ten list since it’s my sole purchase this year.  Even if I’d bought more, I’m sure it would be on that list.  Beautiful design, fine portrait style, excellent craftsmanship, great centering, nice toning... I certainly won't be returning this one!

 

Comments and coins welcome.  First Meris tets, other Macdonian shield tets, etc.  I know @Ryro has some to offer, including a Philip V tet-- another type I want.
 

 

Edited November 3, 2024 by TIF

[CPK]

Simply magnificent, @TIF! I agree with your points about the attractiveness of that particular die. Very cleanly done. Congratulations!

[Ryro]

Way to break the dry spell with another absolute showstopper from the @TIF express! Toning, artistry, strike all on point. Just WoW!

That pixy look is eye catching. However, I hear you on wanting a thicky. Searching for deep crazy relief is a big plus of owning tetradrachms. Holding them in hand is, and should be,  just so satisfying. 

Neither of mine are satisfactory, but fill the hole for now:

#2 has great relief, toning, and artistry, but obvs is broken and repaired:

Second Meris is excruciatingly hard to buy at auction. And I've not come close but twice. None yet. No coins are known to have been minted at the third Meris, Meris Buehler's day off.

But we do have bronzes from the fourth:

MACEDON (Roman Protectorate), Republican period. Fourth Meris. Circa 167-149 BC. Æ (25mm, 10.18 g, 12h). Heraclea Lynci mint. Head of Zeus right, wearing laurel wreath / Club; monogram and MAKΔONΩN above, TETAPTHΣ and monogram below; all within oak wreath; thunderbolt to left. MacKay pl. III, 12; Touratsoglou pl. VII, 26; AMNG III/1, 188; SNG Copenhagen 1316; Weber 3709. VF, brown patina. Extremely rare.

"After the defeat of Perseus at the battle of Pydna in 168 BC, the Romans divided Macedonia into four separate autonomous administrative regions (merides). The first region (ΠPΩTEΣ) lay east of the Strymon with its capital at Amphipolis, the second (ΔEYTEPAΣ) between the Strymon and Axios with its capital at Thessalonica, the third between the Axios and Peneos with its capital at Pella, and the fourth (TETAPTHΣ) included most of Upper Macedonia with its capital at Heraclea Lynci. These four regions only lasted until 148 BC when the country was finally united to constitute a Roman Province and proceeded to issue coins under the authority of its legatus pro praetore.

Livy informs us that initially all commerce between the regions, exploitation of the silver and gold mines and the importation of salt were forbidden. Almost all the coinage of this period is struck in the name of the first region and runs parallel to the mass coinages of Thasos and Maroneia from about 158 BC. The first region was the most prolific in its coin issues, striking huge issues of tetradrachms and bronze. The second region had only two issues of tetradrachms and the fourth had only two issues of bronzes. Coins from these two regions are very rare today. No coinage is known from the third region."

Here's a favorite Macedonian tet from immediately before rome's takeover:

Philip V (221-179 BC). Tetradrachm. Uncertain Macedonian mint.

Obv: Head of Perseus left, wearing winged helmet surmounted by griffin's head; harpa in background; all in the centre of Macedonian shield.

Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ.

Club right between legend in two lines; all within wreath right.

SNG München 1125; HGC 3.1, 1056.

Condition: Fine.

Weight: 16.91 g.

Diameter: 30 mm. Purchased from Numismatik Naumann November 2021

Ps, since I've posted the Philip V, you've got to show off your Antigonos Gonatas, pleeeaaassseee

Edited November 3, 2024 by Ryro

[Kali]

Fantastic, congrats. Love the toning too.

Macedonia, Roman Protectorate, First Meris, (167 - 148 B.C.)

AR Tetradrachm
O: Diademed and draped bust of Artemis right, bow and quiver over shoulder, in the center of a Macedonian shield.
R: MAKEDONWN PRWTHS; Club; monogram above, two monograms below; all within oak wreath, thunderbolt to left.
Amphipolis Mint
16.56g
30mm
SNG Copenhagen 1315 // AMNG 176

[AncientCoinnoisseur]

Amazing acquisition @TIF , congratulations!!! That obverse is truly spectacular, and so is the toning. And do not worry, I am more than pleased with your post, you made me notice some nuances I missed in the past!  
  
Yes, my coin has a very pronounced ‘dome-shape’, as it can be seen from this video.

The pictures don’t do it justice, I was actually surprised when I got it and I bought it a few months ago for a price that I think was more than fair, especially these days (550€ hammer):

 

I especially love the care with which the oak leaves are depicted, they are almost always worn flat or poorly made. The 3D effect is truly remarkable, and they compensate for the obverse, which while it is akin to the severe style, it could have been a bit better (but for the price paid I cannot complain!).

Thanks for the shoutout!

BTW, even though I promised myself I would stop, I also bought a single coin this month, with a great provenance dating back to the 1800s! It was in the collection of Giovanni Dattari himself and illustrated in his pencil rubbings 🙂  It was on my wishlist since I had started collecting and I finally managed to grab one I liked at a decent price. It’s on its way home, and if / when it arrives safely I will definitely make a video (and maybe an infographic about it! Can you guess what it is? 😁

[Croatian Coin Collector]

If anyone else is interested in acquiring one, a nice example is up for auction here: https://nomisma-aste.bidinside.com/en/lot/17564/-macedonia-dominazione-romana-158-150-/ 

[Brennos]

Congratulations ! A truly charming portrait.

[NewStyleKing]

First Meris types are often found in Bulgarian coin hoards. I think Illiya Propakov writes on this topic and maybe Eugene Paunov , but certainly Illiya writes only in Bulgarian!

[JAZ Numismatics]

Fantastic coin! (I was wondering whether you were still an active collector.)

[ominus1]

..very nice @TIF...nothing like coming back hard with a club! 😛

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

That's a great acquisition!  I wish I had any Meris tetradrachm.

[Qcumbor]

Beautiful coin @TIF. The one you sent back was miles away the one you just bought. And the engraving of the obverse portrait is no way second to the other one you seem to prefer. Actually it depends more on the wear the coin shows, or the lightning of the pictures.

For instance I would prefer yours to this one because of a certain arrogance in Artemis' facial expression :

21 hours ago, TIF said:

 

Even though I would prefer the following one to yours because I don't see that arrogant look here :

21 hours ago, TIF said:

 

 

All in all you made an excellent choice
Q

[Ocatarinetabellatchitchix]

21 hours ago, TIF said:

It has been an entire year since I last won a coin at auction!  

Seems you didn’t lose a bit of your (fine) taste…

[TIF]

11 minutes ago, Qcumbor said:

For instance I would prefer yours to this one because of a certain arrogance in Artemis' facial expression :

 

11 minutes ago, Qcumbor said:

Even though I would prefer the following one to yours because I don't see that arrogant look here :

I looked long and hard at those two coins when composing my post and agree that there is something subtly different about the two portraits.  It could just be a product of lighting, but perhaps the slight wear on the CNG coin has softened the portrait, literally and figuratively.  I think the CNG coin and Roma coin are both candidates for Best of Type.  The Roma example is in pristine condition, but the toning on the CNG coin makes it beautiful.  I'll take both please 😄

Edited November 3, 2024 by TIF

[NewStyleKing]

https://www.academia.edu/72228037/THE_STOLEN_NUMISMATIC_COLLECTION_OF_THE_REGIONAL_HISTORY_MUSEUM_OF_VRATSA

 

Is your coins here?

[TIF]

25 minutes ago, NewStyleKing said:

https://www.academia.edu/72228037/THE_STOLEN_NUMISMATIC_COLLECTION_OF_THE_REGIONAL_HISTORY_MUSEUM_OF_VRATSA

 

Is your coins here?

No, but thank you for posting this reference in case anyone wants to check before buying a First Meris tet.  It would have been surprising because this coin has been auctioned through Goldberg twice (previously in 2016), and was acquired by Tom Cederlind before that.

There are a lot of First Meris tets in this stolen collection-- also a lot of Thasos-type Dionyosos tets and a bunch of denarii (Republic and Imperial).

Edited November 10, 2024 by TIF

[Roman Collector]

That's absolutely stunning, @TIF! Lovely, lovely toning, too. Coingratulations!

[Spargrodan]

Amazing pick up @TIF Here's my 1st Meris I picked up eralier this year. I’ve included two different pictures of the same coin to show the difference lighting can make. It’s a bit off-center with a defect in the flan, but still gorgeous in hand.

[Curtisimo]

I meant to respond to this thread earlier but time flies and gets away from me sometimes. @TIF, you know I think that is a beautiful example! It’s an iconic type and you got one that has great centering and fantastic style. Despite your dry spell your taste in coins hasn’t diminished a bit. 😉 

Here is my example you mentioned.

 

[David Atherton]

I cannot but echo what others have said above ... absolutely stunning. Congrats!