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This is probably the last real masterpiece which I am going to
show you. The head is of Apollo "en face," minted in Klazomenai
in Ionia during the great period around 360 BC. This was a time
of mass production of coins but with a few beautiful coin dies.
On the left, there is the inscription "Theodotos epoie" - Theodotos
made me. This is the artist's signature, just like Raphael, Rembrandt
and other masters. The artist was aware of his artistic achievement,
or he would not have signed the die, nor would he have been allowed
to do so. Calm, powerful, majestic, perhaps one of the most beautiful
male heads on a coin. In my opinion, the last amazing masterpiece
from Asia Minor. I don't know whether the artist was Greek. It is
very likely, but he could just as well have been a Greek from Ionia
or from Aeolis where works in Greek art tradition were made. We
shouldn't focus too much on the aspect whether the artist was Greek
or not. He may as well be a local die engraver who had been influenced
by Greek art from the mainland.
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