v08_0839 - MASSALIA - MARSEILLE Litra ou obole

MONNAIES 8 (2000)
Starting price : 114.34 €
Estimate : 182.94 €
Realised price : 114.34 €

Type : Litra ou obole

Date: c. 385 AC

Metal : silver

Diameter : 11 mm

Orientation dies : 1 h.

Weight : 0,87 g.

Rarity : R1

Coments on the condition:

Magnifique portrait sur un flan un peu court avec un très léger manque de métal à 6 heures / Patine foncée au revers avec un très haut relief en particulier sur le moyeu de la roue

Catalogue references :

LT.2/574 - Br/M.26/E3.1 - Sch/L.113 - BN.543

Obverse

Obverse legend : ANÉPIGRAPHE.

Obverse description : Tête juvénile à droite de dieu fleuve (le Lacydon ?) avec de longs favoris.

Reverse

Reverse legend : M - A DANS LES 3E ET 4E CANTON.

Reverse description : Roue à quatre rayons avec moyeu central bouleté.

Historical background

MASSALIA - MARSEILLE

(410-385 BC)

The beginning of the 4th century BC revolves around the creation of the heavy drachma of Marseilles. Legend has it that this coin was made to help the Romans pay ransom to the Gauls who besieged the Urbs in 390 BC. The obverse seems inspired by the beautiful heads of the nymph Arethusa of Syracuse while the reverse could have been inspired by the workshops of Greater Greece such as Velia. Marseille also adopted the Campanian standard used by Velia with a drachma of 3.70 g. This piece is an important link in Massali's history. A lion of Velia was worth two lions of Marseilles and proves the economic links which united the two cities in the face of the dangers represented by the Etruscans and the Carthaginians. The heavy drachma quickly disappeared. The MASSALIHTWN ethnic obol (Br/M. 25/C.1), then the M (Br/M. 26/D.1) are minted just before the creation of the heavy drachma.

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