Christmas came early - Themistokles Trihemiobol

Well, I couldn’t be more happy this holiday season. After getting this package from customs (kuenker auction), I was just so happy. This is my new center piece of the collection.

For those who do not know Greco Persian history: Themistokles was the most prominent Athenian statesman and general (strategos) during the second Persian invasion, he also fought at marathon. By his influence the silver that was found in lavrion was used to create a 200 trireme navy that became the best in class in Greece. He used this advantage and gave up the city to Persian Artaxerxes when he came with his land and sea force trapping him and ~140 other Greek ships in the straits off the coast of salamis. This then led to the infamous battle of salamis that stopped the momentum that the Persians had in the invasion and forced the Achaemenid king to retreat with a large force back to Iran. He was hailed as a hero and quoted by Plutarch as “the man most instrumental in achieving the salvation of Greece” and credited with the most brilliant victory of the Greeks.

However with the Persian threat subdued at Plataea, he slowly began to fall out of favor in Athens, and in 472/1 BC was ostracized and sentenced to death in absentia. In fact he had the second most number of shards found with his name, and you can see many of them in Athens on display. After this, Themistokles fled to Persia, and endeared himself to the new king of kings. He was generously granted the rule of 3 cities: Magnesia ad Meandrum, Lampasucs, Myus. Out of these he chose to reside in Magnesia on the Meander and minted his coins there from 465-459 BC when he died. He was succeeded by his son Archepolis who continued minting coins.

This is the story of Themistokles,

My humble coin is a Trihemiobol, which is the largest denomination of his, and it is the most complete example of the obverse die. In 2019 when this last sold, it was one of 7 known.