ATTICA, Athens. Circa 165-42 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 29mm, 16.44 g 12), Apellikon, Gorgias and Deinas, 88/87 . Helmeted head of Athena Parthenos to right. Rev. ΑΘΕ / ΑΠ-ΕΛ/ΛΙ-ΚΩΝ / ΓΟΡ/ΓΙ/ΑΣ / ΔΕΙ/Ν - ΑΣ Owl standing facing on amphora; to right, griffin leaping to right; on amphora, Η (= 8th month); below amphora, ΔΑ (= contractor’s initials); all within olive wreath. Thompson 1139 c (this coin). Sharp, clear and toned, with some remaining luster. Extremely fine.

From the Stoecklin Collection, acquired as no. 22 from an uncertain FPL (MM?) in 1957, and from the Abruzzi / Poggio Picenze Hoard of 1954 .

The chief magistrate on this coin was the well-known Apellikon of Teos, a famous book collector (the symbol on the coin is the griffin of Teos). He purchased (and sometimes stole!) a wide variety of books, including the libraries of Aristotle and Theophrastus from Neleus of Scepsis. He was appointed a military commander by the pro-Mithradates VI government of Athens, but he was significantly incompetent and only managed to escape with his life! His library was seized by Sulla and sent to Rome in 84 BC (the same year in which Apellikon apparently died).