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Nomos 15

22 October 2017
Zunfthaus zur Saffran, Zürich
overview
Estimate: 25000 CHF
Hammer Price:  45000 CHF
Lot 54

MACEDON, Chalkidian League. Circa 432-348 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 24 mm, 14.60 g, 6 h), Olynthos mint, c. 380s-370 BC. Laureate head of Apollo to left. Rev. ΧΑΛΚΙΔΕΩΝ Kithara with seven strings. Robinson & Clement –. SNG ANS -. Extremely rare, from an unpublished die pair and with a head of Apollo of great beauty; perfectly centered and of excellent metal quality. Extremely fine.

Ex Triton XV, 3 January 2012, purchased privately from an American collection in 2008.

This coin goes to prove that new coins turn up all the time; it forms part of the major Chalkidian League series, but up till now it has not been published. The head of Apollo is both delicate and extremely nice, with a visage that is almost ‘Christian’ in its willingness to forgive. If this head had appeared on the Parthenon Frieze it would have long been considered a masterpiece of classical art. There are a number of chronological pointers that allow us to place this coin within the series: there is no magistrate’s name or symbol, the eye is fully profile, there is only a faint incuse square on the reverse, Apollo’s hair is very carefully arranged with no locks falling down the back of his neck or dangling in front of his ear. This almost certainly means a date in the later first quarter of the 4th century. This is unquestionably one of the most elegant heads of Apollo to appear on the coinage of the 4th century.

Online bidding closes: 22 Oct 2017, 12:00:00 CEST Current Date & Time: 28 Mar 2024, 14:09:59 CET Remaining Time: Closed Hammer Price:45000 CHF

Pre-Bidding closes on 22 Oktober 2017 at 12:00 CEST. Live bidding starts at 14:00 CET and is EXCLUSIVELY available on biddr. Separate registration is required.

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