Thrace, Abdera. Tetradrachm, magistrate Kallidamas circa 450-425, AR 15.00 g. KA – Λ – ΛIΔ – AMA – Σ Griffin seated l., with rounded wings, r. foreleg raised; below, tunny l. Rev. ABΔ – HP – ITE – ΩN around the border of an incuse square, within which, a quadripartite square. de Nanteuil 703 (these dies). AMNG II, 61. Weber 2375 (these dies). May, Abdera 142. C-N p. 111, period IV.
Light iridescent tone and good very fine

Ex Triton sale XVI, 2013, 249.

Although an abortive colony was established at Abdera by settlers from Clazomenae in c. 656, a permanent city was not founded until 544 BC when it was colonized by Teans escaping the Persian conquest of Ionia. The city enjoyed great prosperity in the fifth century, despite being compelled to host Xerxes I during the Persian invasion of Greece (480-479 BC) and later paying high tribute to Athens as a member of the Delian League. However, Abdera was brought to the brink of disaster in 376/5 BC, when the city was attacked by the Triballians. The Abderites were only saved by the timely arrival of the Athenian general Chabrias, but they were never able to regain their former strength. At last, in c. 350 BC Abdera was captured by Philip II. Not wishing to live under Macedonian domination, many of the Abderites fled to Athens. Abdera was one of the earliest Greek mints to strike coins in Thrace, beginning around 520/515 BC. Located as the city was on the borderlands between the Achaemenid Persian Empire and the Thracian lands desired by Athens, Abdera’s coinage was often struck to a local standard that was easily exchangeable in the Attic and Persic weight systems until the mid-fifth century BC. The coinage of Abdera regularly features the depiction of a griffin derived from the civic badge of Teos. In the later fifth and fourth centuries this type is paired with frequently (annually?) changing reverse types personal to the magistrate named on the reverse.