Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 24005 - The Official Coinex Auction of Ancient, British and World Coins
Lot: 203

NGC Ch XF | Lokris, Lokris Opuntii, AR Stater, c. 369-338 BC, head of Persephone left, wearing barley-wreath and triple-pendant earring and necklace, rev. OPON TION, Ajax advancing right, nude but for crested helmet, brandishing sword and shield, shield decorated with griffin and a palmette, a broken spear at his feet diagonally, 11.70g (BCD 19 (these dies); Traite pl. 206, 13), slightly weather-beaten to obverse, still toned and well-struck, good very fine, in an NGC 'Ancients' holder, graded Choice Extremely Fine (Strike: 5/5, Surface: 2/5) [NGC Cert. #8221847-007]

Provenance

The "Estafefette No. 21" Collection of Ancient, English and World Coins

Virgil M. Brand, Part V, Sotheby's, 1 February 1984, lot 132

von Schennis, Hirsch XXXIII, 1913, lot 704


"Ajax, now, went down with his long-oared fleet.

First Poseidon drove him onto the cliffs of Gyrae,

looming cliffs, then saved him from the breakers

he'd have escaped his doom, too, despite Athena's hate,

if he hadn't flung that brazen boast, the mad blind fool.

'In the teeth of the gods,' he bragged, 'I have escaped

the ocean's sheer abyss!' Poseidon heard that frantic vaunt

and the god grasped his trident in both his massive hands

and struck the Gyraean headland, hacked the rock in two,

and the giant stump stood fast but the jagged spur

where Ajax perched at first, the raving madman -

toppling into the sea, it plunged him down, down

in the vast, seething depths. And so he died,

having drunk his fill of brine."



This, in Robert Fagles' magisterial rendering of the Odyssey, is the rather laughable end of the mighty Lokrian warrior Ajax, son of Oileus, known otherwise as Ajax 'the Lesser'. Ajax was a central figure in the Trojan War as portrayed in the Iliad, fighting alongside his companion Ajax 'the Greater' at the defence of the ships and helping defend the corpse of Patrocles from desecration by the Trojans. He later competes against Odysseus in the funeral games, only to be tripped over by Athena, and winning second place.


Despite his bravery and prowess in battle, being listed as one of those hiding in the Trojan Horse, Ajax is also portrayed as hubristic and thuggish. Later authors, such as Euripides and Pausanias, attest to his sacrilegious and violent capture of the Trojan Princess Cassandra, whom he brutally drags from a supplicant statue in the sanctuary of the Temple of Athena. Ajax, upon receiving protest from Odysseus then swears his innocence while holding a similar supplicant, and thereby avoids execution.


Though the Pantheon had no gripes in general with arrogance, lying or violence against the innocent, they certainly would not forgive Ajax's blasphemy. As Ajax made his way out of Troy, Athena, furious that he had not been executed for his crimes, struck his ship with a lightning rod, and his ship was wrecked upon the whirling rocks. With the assistance of Poseidon, Ajax clung to a rock, and hoisted himself up, only, in display of rash ingratitude, to say he would survive very well without the Sea-God's help. Understandably, Poseidon split the rock with his trident, and Ajax drowned, being washed up on the shores of Mykonos.


Despite this ignominious end, and a series of crimes against the gods which would appal most Greeks, the people of Opuntian Lokris adored their local hero, and would commemorate him on coins such as these. It is said that when the Lokrians went into battle, they would leave a space in their formation for Ajax to fight alongside them.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£3,500

Starting price
£3500