Numismatica Ars Classica Auction 5 (1992)
Numismatica Ars Classica · 1992 · 18 plate pages · 32 text pages
Catalogue Text
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GREEK COINAGE Etruria Populonia 25-asses_ 211-206,AV 1.39 g XXV t0 I; inwardly; beneath and behind stylised profile head of lion L , jaws agape and tongue protruding; border of dots. Rev Faint striations upon a plain ground. I. Vecchi; The coinage ofthe Rasna, SNR 67; 1988,47 Extremely fine 3,500~ Illustrated on colour plate Campania Cales Bronze, about 276-2609,AE 7.64 g. CALENO upwards before laureate head of Apollo ]_ long hair tumbling about neck, behind which eight-pointed star; border of dots. Rev CALENO in exergue below man-faced bull,head to front, walking c; above bull,cight- rayed star with an additional eight flames in the interstices, and below,4. Border of dots Sambon 959 Wonder...
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Nomos, about 334-332,AR 7.77 g. Ephebos, naked but for helmet and carrying long spear and large round shield in Lhand, head [ , standing to front behind bridled horse r which he prepares to mount, his r hand resting On his steed"'s back; in field I + Rev Naked Taras, with trident upright in [ hand and small round shield in L, seated sideways on dolphin going L waves below; TAP(AE) in field upper I and A beneath dolphin. Vlasto 518 (these dies) Obverse slightly off-centre, otherwise an elegant coin in high relief. Rare and good very fine 1,000_ 12 Nomos, about 334-332, AR 7.79 g. Naked ephebos seated on standing horse, which he crowns I;; beneath horse, anothernaked youth kneels r: on exergua...
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Nomos,about 334-332,AR 7.89 g Naked cphebos riding cantering horse I; on his | shoulder; large round shield and at waist; two long spears held transversally; he strikes downward with spear in I hand In field L_+; andI,L; below horse_ Aa: border of dots. Rev Naked Taras seated on dolphin between eight-rayed stars; examining Attico- Phrygian helmet supported by [ hand; in field L, TAPAE: upwards and beneath dolphin, @L Vlasto 538 (misread) - 541 Rare. Weakly struck; otherwise extremely fine 2,500 _ This extensive coinage (VI 538-554, with sub-group without = stars; VI. 555-558) is clearly related t0 the "triumphal" coinage, VL 530-4,535-7 and 560-2,@I falling - out,KAA continuing, andmight rep...
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Laus Nomos about 500,AR 7.92 g. (Ai$) almost worn from the die. Bearded man-headed bull standing on base composed of pellets between two lines; his head, the brow fringed with dots as curls, is diademed and homed and reverted s0 as to nuzzle the withers Border of dots between two linear concentric circles RevAs obverse; but incuse ;there is nohom and thehair; tied upat the neck; is more clearly visible In field above, (~)o (~)in relief, retrograde: Plain base and wrcath or herring-bone border: SNG ANS 132 Gorini 4 (this obv. die) Very rare and unusually good. Good very fine 9,000 Obverse and reverse legends taken together corpose theethnic adjective Lavinos, ofLaos' ariver-portcolony of Syba...
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27 Nomos, about 333-330.AR 7.82 g Bearded head of Leucippus oekistes [, wearing Corinthian helmet; behind neck bunch of grapes_ Rev: Eight-grained ear of barley, leaf to I; in field , upwards, META. Johnston Class. A,4.5 (these dies) Rather close flan; but as struck: Extremely fine 1,000. The helmeted head of Leucippus,mythicalhero-founder of Metapontum; is appropriate t0 the wars against the Lucani and Bruttians who coveted the riches derived from the hard to defend agricultural possessions of the city; this is anolher issue arising from the presence of Alexander and his protecting army: 28 Nomos,about 333.331,AR 7.86 g. Head of youthful Heracles = with side-whiskers and hair arranged in S-...
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32 Nomos, about 331/330-320,AR 7.86 g. Head of Demeter I wearing pellet and triple-pendant ear-ring and dotted necklace,hair formally arranged in heavy curls at brow and restrained by massive wreath of three ears of ] barley and four leaves, while flowing abundantly down neck over shoulder; border of dots Rev Seven-grained ear of = barley - with furled leaf, above which star; in field k, META upwards with below, AY: Johnston Class C, 8.6 (these dies) Well struck in high relief in a rather theatrical style: Extremely fine ,600.- One is reluctant t0 place this coin very much beyond the late Alexander period with which the Taras star coinage seems to be associated, given also the excellent tech...
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Velia 38 Nomos, 380-360,AR 7.54 g. Lion at bay I, roaring; on dotted exergual line beneath which, owl with folded wings; borderofdots Rev Headofnymphr;elaborately wavedhairin sphendone, wearing single-pendantear- ~ring= and linear necklace with jewel at throat; in field above, YEAH before face , vine-branch with tendril, grapes and leaf formally arranged; beneath chin, @ SNG Oxford 1094 (these dies) AMB 115 (these dies Mangieri 57) Very fine 2,000 _ Mangieri , Velia _ 984,by failing perceive the extraordinary delight the Velians took in prolonging on their coinage archaic and later art far beyond its natural ten;,has made chaotic rearrangement of the almost perfectly coherent classification ...
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Nomos, about 332,AR 8.06 g. Head of Hera Lacinia facing three-quarter r wearing dotted necklace with pendants and, over luxuriant loosely-waved hair; diadem decorated with palmette flanked by foreparts of griffins, both facing cin field I, downwards,K-P-0-T and low Border of dots. Rev Naked youthful Heracles oekistes reclining head lowered, on lion-skin spread upon rock, and holding olpe or sacificial jug in extended [ hand; in upper field cluband drawn bowentwined Lincar border: SNGANS 379 (these dies) Avery rare variety in wonderfulquality, exceptionally well centred and struck in high relief: Toned, about extremely fine 11,500. Illustrated on colour plate The Hera acinia nomoiof Croton se...
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Sicily Acragas 48 Tetradrachm, about 460,AR 17.36 g. Eagle standing [. on wavy line, wings folded; in field I , downwards, AKRAC and L, upwards, ANTOE Rev. Crab seen from above , shell resembling human face SNG ANS 973 (these dies) An excellect specimen, quite unwom; but the eagle's head not struck up. Good extremely fine 6,000 _ Illustrated on colour plate Ex Leu sale 50, 1990,41 49 Trias, about 430,AE 21.89 g. Tooth-shaped cast flan with; on one side, eagle with closed wings standing and on the other; crab seen from above, AK between r foreclaw and pincer; above, on base four pellets. Cf: (for type) Gabrici I, p: 144,2 AMB 256 SNG ANS 1017 A piece of a quality almost never met with, greeni...
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Catana 54 Tetradrachm; about 430,AR 16.75 g Racing chariot drawn I by four walking horses; winged Nike, draped, flies L t0 crown the charioteer; wearing chiton, who holds reins in both hands and kentron in L, all on plain exergual line. Borderofdots Rev.Laureatehead ofApollor; inficldr andL ,starting uppert_,KATANAI-ON. Rizzopl. 11,14 (these dies) Strong, coarse early classical style: Unusually large flan , extremely fine 7,000. Ex Leu sale 5O,1990,51 and Numismatic Fine Arts 2, 1976,42 sales The truncation of the neck is, exceptionally, curved up rather than down, perhaps to avoid cutting into the legend already engraved on the die _ 55 Tetradrachm signed by Euainetos, about 415,AR 16.67 g ...
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Leontini 59 Tetradrachm, about 425,AR 17.44 g Laureate head of Apollo ,,hair in straggling locks to nape of neck; border of dots. Rev Stylised lion's head L, jaws agape and tongue protruding; behind head, laurel-leaf; in field, three barley- corns and around head, starting upper ] , LEO-N-TI-NON. Rizzo pl. 24, 4 (these dies) SNG ANS 256 An excellent example of this once rare chef doeuvre of the maestro della foglia. Well-centred, bright metal , good extremely fine 3,500 - Messana 60 Tetradrachm, about 480,AR 17.14g Bigaofmules walking _, driven by draped landF bearded charioteer seated on light racing chariot,reins in both handsandkentronin] exergual line- and border of dots Rev MESSE-N-ION ...
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Syracuse Tetradrachm, about 485-479,AR 17.41 g Bearded charioteer in chiton driving walking quadriga L, reins in L hand and transverse kentror in I; Nike, both wings behind her; flies t0 crown horses with closed diadem . Border of dots Rev EVPAK-OEI-0-Nr tol,,downwards.Smallheadof Arethusa wearing twodiadems,oneofpearls,the other plain, the second catching up her long hair composed of pellets, the ends of which fall at the back of her head, and dotted necklace; four dolphins going around. E. Boehringer; Die Muinzen von Syrakus, 1929,109. Well struck. Good very fine 4,500 = 65 66 Tetradrachm, about 485-479,AR 17.49 g. As previous, but the diadem held by Nike is apparently open and is close t0...
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73 Tetradrachm signed by Sosion, about 415, AR 17.17 Four-horse racing chariot at slow canter to 1= the disproportionately large chiton-clad charioteer; whom Nike flies I to crown with open wreath, leaning forward t0 restrain horses pulling reins back with hand down wards and extended t0 shorten reins of lead horse, which responds by lowering head; border of dots. Rev EYPAKO-ZIO-N from upper I to lower Head of Arethusa surrounded by four dolphins_ two swimming [ two L; her thickly waved hair is caught up at back and in serpentine waves on brow; crowned by ampyx 0n which XOEIQN in two lines; she wears hook ear-ring and loosely tied linear necklace with bead pendants and pendant at throat L Tu...
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Agathocles, 317-289 50-litrae, about 317-310,El 3.65 g. Laureate head of Apollo L, loosely waved hair - falling = down neck; in field low L cantharus Border of dots Rev Tripod with bowland central burner; the centre of the three handles is decorated with an X the grooved legs, finished at top with volutes, Anc linked by Lwo stretchers and terminate in lion's feet: From upper r around, EYPAK-OEISN GK Jenkins_ Electrum Coinage at Syracuse, Essays Robinson 1968,01 /R 2 Extremely fine ,800 _ 78 50-litrae, about 317-310,El 3.50 g. As previous, but behind head, wreath. Rev.As previous_ but legend begins Iow and Hl between legs of tripod. Jenkins 0 27 R 46 SNG ANS 630 Small flan, but charming style...
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Hieron II , 274-216 Gold S-litrae or Attic drachm,AV 4.27 g. Head ofKore-Persephone /,, similar to previous,but in field c, pOppy head: Border of dots.Rev. Chiton-clad charioteer driving cantering biga I, reins in L hand, kentron in below, IEPONOE, beneath which; A BMC 510 (this obv: die) and 514 (this rev: die) Hirmer pl. 49, 139 (this obv: die) Fine style, almost extremely fine 4,500 _ Hieron borrowed the obverse of Hicetas's gold drachm and the reverse of Agathocles' to create his own gold piece almost exactly half the weight of the ubiquitous Philip II staters; while remaining On the Syracusan litra standard, the coin has typology which seems t0 make i exchangeable against Macedonian gol...
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Acragas Shekel, about 213-211,AR 6.15 g. Head of a dynast (Hannibal ?) with long side-whisker; wearing laurel-wreath entwined with linear-edged diadem,diadem ties fiowing behindneck; border ofdots Rev Elephant walkingr on plain exergual line; in exergue, Punic letter X (aleph). Linear border: Burnett, Enna hoard, 115 cf: SNG Cop 382 (where diadem with crescent pattemn) ES.G. Robinson, Punic coins of Spain in Essays Mattingly, 1956, pl. 3, 8 (a) From the finest dies in this rare series, good extremely fine 5,500_ 89 Illustrated on colour plate and enlargement plate B Burnett, op.cit_,P. 12, while attributing all the Other Punic coins in the Enna find to Acragas prefers - pute this coin t0 the...
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93 Tetradrachm, about 355, 14.40 g. Similar to previous_ but Apollo's hair is somewhat longer; border of dots Rev Generally as previous, but legend is disposed X-A-A-KIA-EQN from upper L , tripod is replacedby AE and beneath lyre, ETII TIMAPXOY Cithara is more square and strap is plain; border of dots Robinson and Clement 97 (obv: 64, var:) Rare A good illustration of the last phase of classical Greek at. Extremely fine 12,000. Illustrated on colour plate 2 The supposed double-striking on the obverse of all recorded specimen of this coin is actually an early recutting of the die which has left an overlapping border upper and faint shadow along the line of the hair and profile. Thraco-Macedon...
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99 Tetradrachm, Pella,AR 14.49 g As previous, but of later style. Rev As previous, but diadem has floating ends, palm is naturalistic, and horse's head is lowered; beneath horse, crescent with homs to r: Le Riderpl. 17,400 (obv: die 212, Iev: die 323) Good very fine 3,000= 100 Tetrobol, Amphipolis, AR 2.57 g. Youthful head of Apollo (or divinised dynastic ancestor) I, hair short, wearing taenia or strophion; border of dots_ Rev: DIAITIIOY above naked rider on spirited horse prancing I; below horse, in wreath: Le Rider pl. 45,34 As struck; good extremely fine Soo _ For . discusion of the significance of the obverse type _ sec Le Rider; Op.cit_, p. 368 Trade issue, Philip Il types restored 101...
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Philip III, 323-316 106 Stater; "Babylon" about 323-317,AV 8.58 g. Helmeted head of Athena [ as no:. 102_ but no ear-ring and necklace is dotted Rev Nike standing asno_ 102,but legend B-AEIAEQE PIAIIIIOY andin field lowL,AY above M Cf Price pI: 16,P178-180 and p. 469, 3691 (Alexander) This arrangement of letters in reverse field not recorded. Attractive coin in high relief, good very fine 3,500 _ Demetrius Poliorcetes, 294-288 107 Tetradrachm, Amphipolis, about 292-291,AR 17.22 g Diademed head of Demetrius I, hair short, wearing taenia Or plain diadem and with bull's horn upwards over ear; border of dots: Rev. Poseidon, naked to hips, seated on rock and holding ster-ornament (aplustre) in ex...
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Perseus, 178-168 II1 Tetradrachm; Pella, 178-176,AR 17.05 g. Head of Perseus I with short hair and beard, wearing plain diadem, the ribbon-ties of which fall t0 neck: Rev: Eagle, wings spread, in aggressive stance r gripping thunderbolt, between BAZI-AEQE and MEP-EEQE in field variously disposed, = (twice) and @ thc whole in oak-wreath, star below: A. Mamroth, Die Silbermiinzen des Kinigs Perseus, 1928, 14 Chr Boehringer, Chronologie_ P 101, Group II An excellent example in high relief from fresh dies and of strong style Bright, good extremely fine 3,500- Illustrated on colour plate 2 For _ (Zoilos) see notc t0 NAC sale 4, 1991, Hi Kings of Dacia Coson, mid Ist cent: 112 Stater; Sarmizegetus...
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116 Aeginetic stater,about 390,AR 12.69g-As previous,butin naturalistic mode; griffin's wings are shown slightly open, forepaws are both on irregular exergual line; in field upper L, (AJBAH and centre [. cicada upwards. Rev. Bearded mature Heracles seatedhalf-lefton lion's skin spread on rock,drapery overI thigh holding club downwards inc hand, L. hand between legs; in field L. and [, upwards, ETIIDIAA-AOE JMF May; The coinage of Abdera, 1966, cf. 397 (this obv: die) and 393 (this rev die) A new die combination. Beautiful detailed work and very rare type. Obverse trifle off-centre , otherwise extremely fine 7,000 _ For this type of weary Heracles at Other cities, see Jenkins in Gulbenkian IL...
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Islands off Thrace Thasos 121 Stater, about 510-480,AR 9.44 g Naked bearded silenos with horse's ears and feet; hair arranged in long plaits over back penis erect; carrying off maenad, wearing sleeved chiton, large circular ear-ring and plain necklace, hair also in plaits _ an lowered, r. raised in air Rev: Irregular incuse square compartments partly filled in: S.Hurter and E. Paszthory, Archaischer Silberfund aus dem Antilibanon, pL 14,3 (this coin) cf. Gulbenkian IL, 460 and Hirmer pl 140,435 Perfectly struck on large flan and exceptionally fresh, very rare thus Good extremely fine 6,000 = Illustrated on colour plate 2 and enlargement plate B Ritual abduction as form of exogamy was and is ...
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125 Didrachm, about 350,AR 12.17 gAs previous, but Larisa is three-quarter L, hair is more loosely arranged and there is no jewel on necklace. Rev Bridled stallion trotting I en manege , tail held high, reins knotted over withers; above, AAPI and below plain exergual line, EAION Hermmann pl. 5, Rare. Obverse overstruck On itself, s0 that remains of border of dots seem t0 put pearls in Larisa's hair; otherwise an unusually expressive obverse die and superb reverse _ About extremely fine 4,500 _ From this period the standard obverse type is obviously modelled, with some simplification, on the Kimonian facing Arethusa head tetradrachm of Syracuse, Hirer pl: 44, 122 126 Trihemiobol, about 340-32...
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Aegina 131 Stater; about 350-340,AR 12.04 g Land-tortoise moving slowly; seen from above. Rev Quadripartite incuse square in regular sunken compartments of varied size, the largest divided by diagonal bar to centre_ BMC 165,pl. 24,12 S.Milbank; The Coinage of Aegina, ANS NNM 24, 1924, pl. 2, 14 Full flan. Almost extrerely fine 4,000 _ Corinthia Corinth 132 Stater; about 475,AR 8.60 g Pegasos with curled wing flying below; ? Rev: Within deep incuse square, head of Athena I wearing Corinthian helmet and dotted necklace, her hair in dotted lines on brow to large curl over ear _ and continued behind neck t0 terminate in tied bunch below truncation. BMC 61 (this obv die) 0.Ravel, Les "Poulains" d...
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Kings of Bithynia Prusias II, 182-149 136 Bronze,AE3.15g. Youthfulhead ofPrusias L, wearing winged diadem Rev. BAEIAEQE L and IIPOYEIOY L,downards, flanking laureate Heracles standing L, holding club downwards in I hand and lion's pelte over arm; in field low = M. BMC 4 Rec. gen. p. 225,25 Black patina. Extremely fine 500 137 Bronez,AES.SI g. Ivy-wreathedand drapedbustofyoung Dionysusr Rev BAEIAEQE L,andTIPOYEIOY L, downwards, flanking the centaur Chiron; laureate and with chlamys, walking [, playing cithara; in field low L,, M BMC 12 Rec gen: p. 225,.26 Lucent dark green patina. Extremely fine 500- Mysia Cyzicus 138 Stater; about 380-360,El 15.95 g Young male bust with short hair brushed ov...
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Eumenes I, 262-241 141 Tetradrachm, after about 262-258, 17.26 g. Head of Philetaerus, hair in profuse curls and with heavy features, wearing combined crown of taenia entwined with laurel-wreath, ties ; falling = at neck; border ofdots. RevAs previous, but ivy-leaf is beneath Athena's I arm and spear is clearly shown crossing shoulder: U_ Westermark, Das Bildnis des Philetairos von Pergamon, 1961,pl. 2, bv XIX,rev: 3. For crOwn, sce Westermark, op. cit;, Pp; 21 and 22 note 5 Remarkably well preserved, about as struck. Bright, good extremely fine 3,000. - Eumenes succeededhis uncleas ruler,not king, of Pergamum. Sometime near the beginning ofthe reignhe substituted on the portrait ofhis prede...
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147 Tetradrachm, about 340,AR 15.14 g.As previous Rev.As previous, but magistrate'$ name KLEONIKOZ and linear border: Head p. 35 (= Mionnet S. n. 194) BMC Very fine 1,800 _ Lebedus 148 Tetradrachm, about 160-150,AR 16.73 g Monumental head of Athena I wearing triple-crested Attic helmet, visor decorated with olive-wreath; bowl ofhelmet;neck-guard and visorhave doublelinear borders; goddess's hair escapes at brow and,atneck,as three formal spiral tresses,and she ears ear-ring in the form of winged Nike facing with open ars_ Rev. AEBEAIQN above twin diademed cornuacopiae with fruit, united at base in lotiform support, between which, owl facing on club r; across field Jow ] and [, ATIOAA-OAOTOE:...
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Hidrieus, 351-344 153 Didrachm, Halicarnassus,AR 6.60 g. Laureate head ofApollo-Helios threc-quarter [, medium-length hairin flowing locks, chlamys fastened at throat. Rev IAPIEQE downwards before Zeus Labrandeus walking [ , laureate with hair long plait behind, and wearing long chiton of Ionian type and himation and carrying in hand long downward- pointing spear and, over [ shoulder; double-axe (labrys). SNG von Aulock 2366 Beautiful old tone. The reverse a little weak, otherwise a pretty coin of good style_ Extremely fine 2,500 - Ex Hess-Leu sale 45,1970,,300 Pixodarus, 340-334 154 Tetradrachm, Halicarnassus,AR 15.23 g. As previous Rev. As previous, but legend IIIZQAAPOY_ SNG von Aulock 80...
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Rhodes 157 Rhodian tetradrachm, about 380,AR 15.16 g.Head of Apollo-Helios three-quarter I, faint line around neck, medium- length hair flowing backwards and upwards in curled locks suggesting sun-rays above brow and beside cheeks. Rev: POAION above rose coming into bloom, stem rising from cup formed by two leaves and supporting; and [, buds on delicate shoots, first with two unfolding tendrils, second; finer; with one; in field low L.A.and[, Corinthian helmet all in shallow incuse rectangle: D Berend;, Les tetradrachmes de Rhodes de la premiere periode, SNR 51, 1972, 43 pl. 4 and enlargement plate 9 (this coin) Very rare Superb specimen ofthis magnificent coinage struck atthe apogee of clas...
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Pamphylia Aspendus 161 Stater; about 370,AR 10.78 g Twoheavily-built naked wrestlers,hairin close curls, standing confronted, their brows touching and their hands about t0 come to grips; pellet in field between them: Border of dots. Rev Slinger slinging wearing short tunic (Doric chiton) , behind, upwards, (E)ETFEA(ITYE) , trisceles running I in I field; all in dotted rectangular frame. SNG von Aulock 4534 and 4535 Very rare _ From rusted dies, notably the reverse, but the obverse, known only from this die, very sharp and in high relief: Extremely fine 4,000 _ [llustrated on colour plate 2 and enlargement plate B On all other issues of Aspendus, the wrestlers are epheboi: In this unique case...
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Cilicia Nagidos 165 Persic double-siglos, about 360-333,AR 10.09 g Astarte-Aphrodite;, wearing polos, long chiton and necklace, seated L.on low throne, 1. elbow resting on armpiece and I hand extended holding phiale, naked Eros flying- t0 crown her; in field L , rose or = myrle with bud, and beneath throne, mouse [. Border of dots. Rev Bearded Dionysus standing himation over shoulder and upper torso bare_ holding long sceptre upright in ]. hand and bunch of grapes with leaf and tendrils in extended I; in field [ , downwards, NATIAIKON and ], 0and = Border of dots: P Lederer; Die Staterpragung der Stadt Nagidos, ZZIN 1931,60 (this obv die) Die-break on reverse, otherwise unusually good. Extre...
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Achaemenid Kings of Persia 169 Daric, Sardes Sth cent _ AV 8.35 g. The Great King beard long and neat, running-kneeling I, wearing four-pointed tiara and full chiton holding' down-pointed spear diagonally in I hand and drawn bow in L; plain exergual line. Rev. Irregular oval incuse with rough surfaces. BMC Carradice pl. XIII, 30 Graze on obverse, Otherwise very fresh and very fine 3,600 - Cyrenaica Cyrene 170 Rhodian didrachm, Koinon issue about 250,AR 7.74 g. Egyptianising diademed head of Zeus-Ammon I wearing ram $ E hom uraeus on diadem, hair and beard in careful disorder: Border of dots Rev. Silphium plant with umbel and two pairs of leaves; in field L and [, KOI-NON and upper L, gazelle...