Auction 87 - Ancient Coins

Sicily, Segesta, Hemidrachm, ca. 380 BC; AR (g 1,86; mm 13; h 12); Hound to l.; above, ΣEΓE (retrograde), Rv. Head of the nymph Aigeste r. Hurter, Segesta, 37 (V10 / R20).
Very rare. Lightly toned, about extremely fine.

Sicily, Stiela, Hemilitron, ca. 415-400 BC; AR (g 0,37; mm 8; h 9); Head of a youthful river god l., wearing a simple taenia and with water reed in the l. field, Rv. ΣΤΙ, forepart of a bearded man-headed bull l. Buceti 4; Campana, Stiela 5; De Luynes 1141; HGC 2, 1272; SNG ANS 1367.
Very rare. Lightly toned, about extremely fine.

Sicily, Syracuse, Litra struck under the Second Democracy, ca. 466-460 BC; AR (g 0,77; mm 12; h 9); Head of Arethusa r., wearing earring, necklace and pearl diadem; before, ΣYRA, Rv. Octopus. Boehringer Series XIIIa, 419; HGC 2, 1375.
Toned, well centered, an near mint state.

Sicily, Syracuse, 8 Litrai under tyrant Gelon II, ca. 218-214 BC; AR (g 6,83; mm 21; h 4); Diademed head of Gelon l.; on r., bow, Rv. ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΟΙ - ΓΕΛΩΝΟΣ, Nike driving fast biga r.; below, BA / E. Burnett, "The Enna Hoard," SNR 62, 56 (same dies); BMC 531; HGC 2, 1561; cf. SNG ANS 894-896.
Amazing preservation and fine style, struck on a full flan; sound, lustrous metal. About fdc.

Sicily, Tauromenion, 15 Litrai, ca. 275-210 BC; AV (g 1,17; mm 12; h 12); Laureate head of Apollo l.; behind, bee, Rv. TAYROME - NITAN, tripod; on l., monogram. SNG ANS 1115.
Rare and extremely fine.

Sicily, Messana - Zankle under the Samians, Chalcidian Drachm, ca. 520-510 BC; AR (g 5,47; mm 24; h 6); DANKVE, dolphin leaping l., within sickle-shaped band, Rv. Scallop shell on center of incuse key-pattern. Gielow 33; DuChastel Coll. 39; SNG ANS 302.
Rare and in exceptional condition for the issue; perfectly struck on a full flan and with a nice cabinet tone. Good extremely fine. [Ex Fritz Rudolf Künker 35, 1997, lot 76]

Sicily, Messana - Zankle under the Samians, Chalcidian Hemiobol, ca. 520-510 BC; AR (g 0,24; mm 7); DANKVE, dolphin leaping l.; above, three pellets; all within sickle-shaped band, Rv. Scallop shell on center of incuse key-pattern. Gielow –; Cf. SNG Fitzwilliam 1063 (litra).
Extremely rare and extremely fine.

Sicily, Naxos, Litra, ca. 530-510 BC; AR (g 0,65; mm 10; h 4); Head of Dionysos l., wearing ivy wreath, Rv. NA - XION (retrograde), bunch of grape. Cahn pl. I, 21; Campana 2; SNG ANS 513.
Rare. Nice old cabinet tone, attractive archaic style, good very fine.

The Carthaginians in the Mediterranean, North Africa, Carthago, Trihemistater, Time of First Punic War: ca. 264-241 BC; EL (g 10,93; mm 22; h 12); Head of Tanit (Kore-Persephone) l., wearing barley-wreath, bar and triple pendant earring and necklace with pendants, Rv. Unbridled horse standing r.; above, sun disk. Jenkins-Lewis Group Xa, 408_1; SNG Copenhagen 182.
Rare and in exceptional condition, with the typical flan crack; one of the the finest specimens known, with the best style of the entire issue. A wonderful reddish tone and good extremely fine.

The Carthaginians in the Mediterranean, Campania, Capua, occupation of Hannibal, Gold Drachm, ca. 216-211 BC; AV (g 4,18; mm 15; h 3); Head of Tanit (Kore-Persephone) or Ceres l., wearing corn-wreath, Rv. Nike driving biga r., holding goad; in ex. K retrograde. HNItaly 479 (the attribution to Capua is not certain); SNG ANS 145; British Museum 1919,1120.19 = Weber 288 (same dies).
Of the highest rarity, only the third specimen known. A legendary coin well struck in a high relief on a solid gold flan. Virtually as struck and almost Fdc.

The Carthaginians in the Mediterranean, Campania, Capua, occupation of Hannibal, 3/8 Shekel, ca. 216-211 BC; EL (g 2,92; mm 14; h 12); Janiform female heads wreathed with corn, Rv. Jupiter driving fast quadriga r., holding sceptre and crowning by Victory. Jenkins 487-493; HNItaly 2013; SNG ANS 146.
About extremely fine.

The Carthaginians in the Mediterranean, Sicily, Akragas, Half Shekel, ca. 213-210 BC; AR (g 2,93; mm 18; h 12); Laureate head of Melkart, with features of Hannibal, l., Rv. African elephant walking r.; in ex. Punic letter Aleph. Burnett, Enna Hoard 123; SNG Copenhagen 383; Campana et alia 1 (forthcoming).
Rare. A bold portrait of magnificent style struck on a large flan; lightly toned, about fdc.

Attica, Athens, Tetradrachm, ca. 500-480 BC; AR (g 16,98; mm 22; h 6); Head of Athena r., wearing crested helmet decorated with chevron and dot pattern, Rv. AΘE, owl, with closed wings, standing r. with head facing; on l., olive twig with two leaves and one berry; all within incuse square. Seltman Group M & G; Asyut Group IV; HGC 1590.
Lightly toned, centered on a thick flan, somewhat porous, anyway about extremely fine - extremely fine.

Islands off Attica, Aegina, Stater, ca. 456-431 BC; AR (g 11,96; mm 19); Land tortoise with segmented shell seen from above, Rv. Large square incuse with heavy skew pattern. BMC Attica p. 137, 146; SNG Copenhagen 516.
Toned and nicely detailed, good very fine.

Cilicia, Mallos, Stater, ca. 440-390 BC; AR (g 10,92; mm 20; h 9); Bearded male god (Kronos or Semitic deity El), with four wings, in the running-kneeling position to l., holding a solar disc with both hands, Rv. ΜΑΡΛΟ, swan with closed wings walking r.; perched on his back to r., a sea eagle with its head bent down. SNG France 375-376; Traité 1394, pl. CXXXVII, 20.
Very rare and attractive. Struck from slightly worn dies, otherwise, about extremely fine.

Cilicia, Tarsos, Stater, ca. 420-410 BC; AR (g 11,04; mm 21; h 8); Lion r., attacking bull kneeling l., Rv. Grain ear; on l., little tree; on r. 'TRZ' in Aramaic; all within diamond-shaped linear border within shallow incuse circle. SNG France 201-202; SNG Levante 54 var.
Extremely rare. Toned and good very fine - about extremely fine.

Cyprus, Paphos, Stater struck under Onasioikos, ca. 450-440 BC; AR (g 10,81; mm 21; h 9); Bull standing l. on beaded line; above, winged solar disk; on l. ankh; in ex. Cypriot characters, Rv. Eagle flying to l., within incuse square. Destrooper-Georgiades 9-10; cf. Zapiti & Michaelidou 6.
Extremely rare and in good condition for the issue. Usual weakness on the obverse die; toned and good very fine - about extremely fine.

Cyprus, Lapethos, Stater, ca. 435 BC; AR (g 10,86; mm 20; h 2); Head of Athena l., wearing crested Corinthian helmet, Rv. Head of Athena facing, wearing open-faced helmet with transverse crest, and necklace; decorative elements in upper corners, all within dotted border within incuse square. Unpublished in the standard references, but cf. BMC 7-9, pl. VI, 6-8; Tziambazis cf. 48.
Extremely Rare. Struck from worn obverse die typical of the issue, good very fine.

Islands of Caria, Rhodes, Tetradrachm struck under magistrate Eukrates, ca. 229-205 BC; AR (g 13,36; mm 25; h 12); Radiate head of Helios facing slightly r., Rv. Rose with bud to r.; above, EYKPATHΣ; below, POΔI - ON; on l., thunderbolt. Ashton 214; HGC 6, 1432.
A portrait of excellent style struck in very high relief. Lightly toned, good extremely fine.

Cilicia, Tarsos, Stater under Satrap Mazaios, 361-334 BC; AR (g 10,92; mm 23; h 7); ‘Baaltars’ in Aramaic, Baal of Tarsos seated l, holding eagle, grain ear, grapes and sceptre; to lower l., ‘TR’ in Aramaic; below throne, ‘M’ in Aramaic, Rv. ‘Mazaios’ in Aramaic, Lion attacking bull l; below, monogram. Casabonne Series 2, Group C; SNG BN –; SNG Levante 106.
Cabinet tone and about fdc. [From an old collection, bought from ancient auctions].

Island of Ionia, Samos, Tetradrachm, ca. 408-366 BC; AR (g 14,78; mm 22; h 6); Facing lion scalp, Rv. Forepart of bull r.; above, EΠIKPATHΣ / AXEΛΩIO (magistrate); on l., laurel branch; below, ΣA. Barron Class X, 158; HGC 6, 1218.
Old cabinet tone, somewhat porous, anyway about extremely fine.

Lesbos, Methymna, Hemiobol, ca. 350-240 BC; AR (g 0,35; mm 7; h 9); Facing head of Silenos, Rv. Tortoise within incuse circle. Franke -. HGC 6, 900-901. SNG Copenhagen -. SNG von Aulock -.
A superb facing portrait of Silenos, good extremely fine / extremely fine.

Lycia, Phaselis, Stater, 4th century BC; AR (g 10,27; mm 21; h 5); Prow of galley r., fighting platform decorated with facing gorgoneion; on r., cicada upward, Rv. Stern of galley l.; above, ΦAΣ; below, dolphin r. Heipp-Tamer Series 6.
Well struck in high relief on a sound metal, lightly toned and good very fine - about extremely fine.

Mysia, Kyzikos, Tetradrachm, ca. 390-340 BC; AR (g 15,15; mm 22; h 12); SΩTEIRA, head of Kore Soteira l., hair in sphendone covered with a veil, two grain ears in hair, Rv. KY - ZI, head of lion l., mouth open with tongue protruding; below, tunny fish; behind, trident head. Pixodarus 21 (same dies); von Fritze II 23; SNG France 396 var. (control symbol); BMC Mysia pg. 36, 124 var. (same); SNG Copenhagen 53 var. (same); SNG von Aulock 1217 var. (same).
Scarce. Attractively toned, well centered on a nice flan, about extremely fine - extremely fine. [Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Triton VII, January 2004, lot 224]