Macedon, Chalkidian League. Olynthos, c. 365 BC
Macedon, Chalkidian League. Olynthos, c. 365 BC
AR Tetradrachm, 14.24g (24mm, 1h).
Laureate head of Apollo tp l. / Kithara, legend around
Pedigree: From a U.S. collection
References: Robinson & Clement Group L, 66–71 var. (A46/P– [unlisted rev. die]); HGC 3, 497
Grade: Very nicely struck. Some pitting on the obverse, especially on the cheek. Some black encrustation on the reverse along with minor marks. aEF
gk2018
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Formed around 430 BC in the wake of the Peloponnesian war, the Chalcidian league acted as what is thought to be a truly federal state of Chalcidice cities with local residents holding citizenship, being protected by common law, acting together in towards a cohesive foreign policy, issuing a single coinage, and fielding a unified military. The capital of this league was situated at the city of Olynthus. Athens never did however give up their dream of regional hegemony and by 365, the same year this coin was struck, the Athenian general Timotheos began reconquering the region. Despite an alliance with Perdikkas III of Macedon, Timotheos was unable to fully conquer the Chalcidian league. That being said he stripped massive quantities of territory from the league and even attacked Madeon. A mere 17 years later, the city of Olynthus would fall to Philip II, and be subsumed into the newly emergent Macedonian kingdom.