Description
Cyrenaica. Ophellas. Stater 333-313 BC, Cyrene. Magistrate Polyanthes. Gold 8.61 g.; 17, 5 mm.
Obverse: Nike, holding goad in her right hand and the reins in both, driving quadriga moving slowly to the right. Obverse caption: ΚΥΡΑΝΑΙΟΝ
Reverse: Zeus-Ammon standing facing, his head turned to the left, holding phiale in his right hand and long staff in his left; to left, thymiaterion. Reverse caption: ΠΟΛΥΑΝΘΕΥΣ
SNG-Cop: 1210. BMC: 123 (same dies). Boston, MFA 1325; Jameson 1353.
Very rare. NGC graded AU Strike: 4/5 Surface: 3/5
Unfortunately it has been slightly cleaned, this sublime and extremely rare specimen bears several graffiti (of belonging?) as well as marks on the edge. Oriented at 12h, there are two marks on the edge, at 12 o'clock and 3 o'clock, probably marks of a touchstone. On the observe, a cross in the exergue and an "A" under the leftmost horse's head of the quadriga. On the reverse, between Zeus's calf and the sceptre, an 'X' is visible, and there may be another graffito (ϕ?) just to the left of the censer.
Comment
Ophellas is a childhood friend of Alexander the Great, who participated in his conquests and on the occasion of which he will be mentioned as trierarch of the fleet of Alexander on the Indus, in 326 BC.
At the time of the partition of the empire of Alexander, Ophellas allies himself with the satrap of Egypt, Ptolemy I Soter. This last one sends him in 322 BC in Cyrenaica at the head of a considerable army to liberate the city of Cyrene, besieged by Thribon, a Lacedemonian mercenary commander who had assassinated the treasurer on the run of Alexander the Great and of which he had stolen a part of the enormous treasure.
Ophellas crushed Thibron, attached Cyrenaica to Egypt and took his place as governor of Cyrene on behalf of Ptolemy. He recovers thus the treasure of Alexander, which one can suppose that it will have been used to strike the exceptional and very rare gold stater that we offer for sale.
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