MACEDON. Skione. Circa 423. Tetrobol (Silver, 12 mm, 1.92 g, 10 h), Phoenician standard. Male head to right, wearing tainia. Rev. Σ-K-I-Ω (retrograde) Corinthian helmet to right; all within incuse square. AMNG III -, cf. 4 (slightly later style and with helmet left). BMC -. SNG ANS -. SNG Copenhagen. Extremely rare. Some horn silver and with minor scratches, otherwise, very fine.


Following the expansion of Athens' influence in northern Greece, Skione became a member of the Delian League, a time during which it adapted the attic weight standard for its coinage. In 423 BC, however, Skione unsuccessfully revolted against Athens: it was besieged for two years by the Athenian fleet before it was captured and destroyed in 421. It is notable that the mint, in this time, changed the weight of the tetrobols from the attic to the Phoenician standard, certainly both a political move and an opportunity to save silver. There is also a clear change in style during this period: while the attic weight tetrobols were of archaic style, with an adult male head with short hair, the obverse of the new ones changed to a more classical head with curly hair. Our coin, however, marks an intermediate step in this development: while the weight is that of a Phoenician tetrobol, the style is still closely linked to the older, more archaic issues to the Attic standard. It is probably part of the earliest issue struck to the Phoenician weight standard right after the beginning of the revolt, but was minted before the obverse style was changed (for a specimen of the later style, see lot 238).