Tetradrachm circa 287, AR 26 mm, 17.13 g. Laureate head of Poseidon r. Rev. ΒΟΙ – ΩΤΩΝ Poseidon seated l. on throne, holding dolphin and trident; below, shield. BCD Boiotia 81 (this reverse die). de Luynes 1980 (this obverse die). Gulbenkian 920 (this reverse die). Head, Boeotia, 81. HGC 4, 1177. Extremely rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, possibly the finest specimen in private hands. A portrait of fine style struck in high relief and a lovely light tone. Minor area of weakness on obverse, otherwise about extremely fine Ex Triton XI, 2008, 147 and Nomos 15, 2017, 106 sales. The earliest coins of Thebes (drachms produced starting c. 525 BC) paired a 'Boeotian shield' design with a utilitarian punch, which became increasingly sophisticated over the course of six or seven decades. In about 460 or 450 BC a legitimate reverse design was introduced in the form of an amphora; creating the shield-and- amphora that is so familiar to numismatists. With minor interruption it would last until the final staters were produced, not long before the Macedonian King Philip II put an end to Theban authority at the battle of Chaeronea in August, 338 B.C. Demetrios I Poliorcetes gave Thebes autonomy in 287 BC, after it had languished under Macedonian domination for many years. In celebration Demetrius chose Poseidon, his patron, on both sides of the coin because the deity was neither important in Boeotia or specially in Thebes. Please find here the video of the coin