v08_0048 - LACONIA - SPARTA Tétradrachme

LACONIA - SPARTA

(3rd century BC)

Sparta, the hereditary enemy of Athens, did not experience silver coinage until very late with this first tetradrachm. Previously, the city had only resorted to iron coins and brooches. Our tetradrachm is attributed to Areos, king of Sparta (309/8-265 BC). Its head on the obverse is not without presenting points of resemblance to certain portraits of Demetrius Poliorcetes, or certain Seleucid kings of the 3rd century. Our piece was dated by J. Babelon between 280 and 266 BC. This author hesitated between Areos and Kleomenes III, king of Sparta between 235 and 222 BC, then dating the tetradrachm around 227 BC Two other extremely rare tetradrachms are known for Sparta, one of Rhodian weight (GC.1/2834), also attributed to Areos or to the following period between 265 and 207 BC. , the other with the title of Nabis at the end of the 3rd century BCE.