Auction 121 - Session 2
Date: 2022-10-06 00:00:00
Lots: 290
Total starting: $ 0.00
Total realized: $ 0.00 (+0.00%)
In this auction, Numistats has matched 0 coins, providing AI-powered purchase recommendations and detailed analysis. View more.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 2 . 373
IONIA, Uncertain. Circa 625-600 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10.5mm, 2.31 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Uncertain geometric design / Two incuse squares. Unpublished in the standard references. Good VF. Apparently unique.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 2 . 374
IONIA, Uncertain. Circa 625-600 BC. EL Hemihekte – Twelfth Stater (8mm, 1.15 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Geometric figure resembling a star, composed of a cross centered upon a polygon of eight sides / Quadripartite incuse square with a pellet in the center; each quarter contains a diagonal line radiating from the central pellet. McFadden 3; SNG Kayhan 699–700. Some scrapes. Good VF. From the Locksmith Collection.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 2 . 375
IONIA, Uncertain. Circa 600-550 BC. EL Hemihekte – Twelfth Stater (8mm, 1.17 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Head of lion right; [pellet below] / Incuse square, with two pellets. SNG Kayhan 1546 corr. (pellet not noted); Traité I 48A = B.V. Head, "Electrum Coins and their Specific Gravity" in NC 1887, 16 (same obv. die); CNG 78, lot 808 (same obv. die); Lanz 148, lot 48 (hammer $14,000). Edge split, scratch and a little off center on obverse. EF.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 2 . 376
IONIA, Uncertain. Circa 600-550 BC. EL Hemihekte – Twelfth Stater (6.5mm, 1.16 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Archaic head left / Rough incuse square. Weidauer 174; Artemision 87; Traité –; SNG Kayhan –. VF. Extremely rare. From the Locksmith Collection.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 2 . 377
IONIA, Uncertain. Circa 600-550 BC. EL Myshemihekte – Twenty-fourth Stater (6.5mm, 0.67 g). Phokaic standard. Head of cock right, with waddle hanging below / Quadripartite incuse square. Cf. Traité I pl. III, 12; otherwise, unpublished in the standard references. Good VF. Extremely rare.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 2 . 378
IONIA, Uncertain. Circa 550-525 BC. EL Stater (23mm, 14.27 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Forepart of bridled horse left; rosette at breast, floral symbol (lotus?) at nape of the neck / Two incuse squares flanking central rectangular incuse. Fischer-Bossert, Horses, Series I, 2o (dies H2/H1-H3 – this coin); Weidauer 138–9; ACGC 56; Konuk & Lorber fig. 7; Le Rider, Naissance, pl. III, 7; SNG Kayhan 714 (same punches); Traité pl. II, 24. A couple of edge splits, some roughness. Good VF. Well centered and struck for this difficult issue. Rare. From the JTB Collection. Ex Hess-Divo 329 (17 November 2015), lot 92 (hammer CHF 8000).This interesting issue of electrum staters has been known for some time. Noting the similarity of the reverse punches to electrum staters at Miletos with a couchant lion, Kraay suggested it may have been one of many issues from the early period at that city with this form of punch marks, perhaps the earliest, with the city using varying types before settling on a lion as its civic badge. Nevertheless, Kraay also noted that some issues with this form of punchmarking had been attributed to cities in Caria and Lydia, so the identification of the mint as Miletos was speculative.Until more recent discoveries, though, the subsidiary symbols on the obverse, a flower (lotus?) and rosette, were either not clearly visible or missed by catalogers. Although the configuration and style of the reverse punches suggest a date contemporary to the lion staters of Miletos, the appearance of these symbols casts doubt on such an early chronology, as subsidiary symbols do not commonly appear on electrum until much later. Subsidiary symbols on electrum staters are more common on northwest Anatolian issues of the early 5th century BC. The most prominent examples are the various electrum staters typically given to the time of the Ionian Revolt (cf. ACGC 74), and the early issues at Lampsakos (cf. Kraay & Hirmer 727). A lotus symbol is also found as a subsidiary symbol on electrum staters that may have been issued in Thrace in the late 6th century (cf. Rosen 148–9). Another example is the recently discovered staters featuring a lion lying right with a lotus flower above (cf. Linzalone 1174), typically dated to the early 5th century. Interestingly, this issue has a similar configuration of reverse punches, though they have a more uniform appearance that suggests a date later than the present specimen. The closest parallel with the current stater issue, however, is a stater with a lion lying left with lotus flower above (cf. Rosen 245). The reverse of this issue also has a similar configuration of punches, but appears closer to our piece in style. Unfortunately, that issue is known from just one example, and its date of issue is unknown.Another factor to consider is the combination of rosette and lotus symbols. These two symbols frequently occur together, particularly on silver issues from cities in the region of northern Greece during the period that they were under Persian rule. Both the rosette and lotus are often found in Persian art. At Persepolis, rosettes of the same form as found on this stater adorn a chariot on the north face of the Apadana, they adorn the bridle of a bull fighting a lion, and frame the scene on the stairway façade of Palace H, and can be seen on parts of the façade of Palace G (now moved to Palace H). In Persian art, the rosette is often used to depict a lotus seen from above, and the same Palace G façade also features a column of lotus blossums above the rosettes. E. Herzfeld's drawings from Persepolis often depict the lotus and rosette used in conjunction (see, e.g., Drawing, "Excavation of Persepolis [Iran]: Apadana, East Side, Ceremonial Staircases: Carvings of Palms," 1905-1934, FSA A.6 05.0899, Ernst Herzfeld Papers, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives, Smithsonian Institution). Thus, the rosette and lotus have long connections in Persian art, and are often found in conjunction. Their use is also attested in ancient Egyptian art, but the importation of the symbols on coins in Asia Minor are more likely a result of Persian influence.It seems thus that this coin was issued after the Persians conquered western Asia Minor in the mid 6th century, but probably not much later, as the configuration and style of the reverse punches seem closely related to the early staters of Miletos. But what of the interpretation of the design? The rosette and lotus symbols are likely to be interpreted as one, rather than two separate images, simply depicting the flower from the side and above. Their meaning in Persian art is manifold: divinity, light, heaven, or royal authority are often suggested. More perplexing is the primary type, the forepart of a horse. Like the rosette and lotus, horse protomes are well known from Persepolis, particularly as capitals. In essence, the design in total, horse forepart with lotus and rosette, can be viewed as intrinsically Persian, and probably is symbolic of Persian authority.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 2 . 379
IONIA, Uncertain. Circa 550-525 BC. EL Trite – Third Stater (13.5mm, 4.70 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Pegasos walking left / Two incuse squares. Fischer-Bossert, Horses, Series II, 4 (dies P4/P5-P6); Weidauer 149; Linzalone 1129; SNG Kayhan 1560. Light scratches. VF. Rare.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 2 . 380
IONIA, Uncertain. Circa 550-525 BC. EL Myshemihekte – Twenty-fourth Stater (7mm, 0.58 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Bridled forepart of winged horse left / Incuse square. Fischer-Bossert, Horses, Series II, 21k (O21/P22 – this coin); Weidauer 143; Linzalone Ln1132 (same dies); Rosen 288 (same dies). Lightly toned. Good VF. Well centered. From the North River Collection. Ex Superior (3 December 1999), lot 1494.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 2 . 381
ISLANDS off IONIA, Chios. Circa 380-350 BC. AR Drachm (13.5mm, 3.63 g, 6h). Ischima–, magistrate. Sphinx seated left; to left, grape bunch above amphora / Quadripartite incuse square, with striated quarters and thick bands; IΣXIMA on horizontal band. Mavrogordato 50; HGC 6, 1125. Toned, granular surfaces, minor porosity on obverse, weakly struck on reverse. Good VF. Rare magistrate.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 2 . 382
ISLANDS off IONIA, Samos. Circa 512 BC. AR Triobol (10.5mm, 1.63 g, 6h). Samian standard. Head of panther facing within pelleted square / Head of ox left in linear and pelleted border within incuse square. Barron p. 175, 1; HGC 6, 1194 corr. (incorrect page noted in Barron). Lightly toned, granular surfaces. VF. Very rare. From the North River Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 97 (17 September 2014), lot 227.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 2 . 383
ISLANDS off IONIA, Samos. Circa 408/4-380/66 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 13.97 g, 6h). Epikrates, son of Acheloio(s), magistrate. Facing lion scalp / Forepart of bull right; EΠIKPATHΣ AXEΛΩIO in two lines above, laurel branch to left, ΣA below. Barron 157–8 var. (A80/P– [unlisted rev. die]); HGC 6, 1218; BMC 135 (same obv. die); Pixodarus 18–21 (same obv. die). Deeply toned, some roughness and minor flan flaws, a few light scratches under tone. Good VF. Rare magistrate.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 2 . 384
LYDIA, Tralleis. Circa 166-67 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 12.61 g, 12h). Cistophoric type. Struck 155-145 BC. Cista mystica with serpent; all within ivy wreath / Bow-case with serpents; maeander pattern to right. Kleiner & Noe Series 23, obv. die 51; SNG Copenhagen –; BMC 13 (same obv. die); SNG von Aulock 3252 (same obv. die); Hunterian 2 (same obv. die). EF. Well centered and struck. From the North River Collection. Ex Triton IX (10 January 2006), lot 956.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 2 . 385
KINGS of LYDIA. temp. Ardys – Alyattes. Circa 630s-564/53 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.38 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Sardes mint. Confronted lion heads; [K]UKA[LIṂ] (in Lydian, retrograde) between / Two incuse squares. Weidauer Group XVIII, 114–5; Kurth G15a; SNG Ashmolean 756. Scrape on obverse. Good VF. Very rare.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 2 . 386
KINGS of LYDIA. temp. Alyattes – Kroisos. Circa 620/10-550/39 BC. EL Trite – Third Stater (13mm, 4.75 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Sardes mint. Head of roaring lion right; sun with multiple rays on forehead / Two incuse squares. Weidauer Group XVI, 89; Kurth G26; SNG Ashmolean 749–51. Light marks, scratch on reverse. Good VF. Struck on a broad flan.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 2 . 387
KINGS of LYDIA. temp. Alyattes – Kroisos. Circa 620/10-550/39 BC. EL Hemihekte – Twelfth Stater (7.5mm, 1.16 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Ephesos mint. Head of boar right / Incuse square. Hilbert, Bermerkungen 7 (A5/P6); Spier p. 332, 5 (A4/P2); Kurth G11 (same die and punch); SNG Kayhan 1011 (same die and punch); Linzalone 1084 (same die and punch). Scratches and marks. VF. Very rare.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 2 . 388
KINGS of LYDIA. Kroisos. Circa 564/53-550/39 BC. AV Stater (17.5mm, 10.70 g). Heavy standard. Sardes mint. Regular issue. Confronted foreparts of lion and bull / Two incuse squares. Berk 2; Kurth G53; Le Rider, Naissance, pl. V, 2; Traité I 396; SNG Ashmolean 759; SNG von Aulock 2873–4; BMC 30; Boston MFA 2068–9; Gulbenkian 756. Underlying luster, a few light scrapes and scratches. Good VF. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 460 (29 January 2020), lot 256.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 2 . 389
KINGS of LYDIA. Kroisos. Circa 564/53-550/39 BC. AR Stater (20.5mm, 10.39 g). Sardes mint. Confronted foreparts of lion right and bull left / Two incuse squares of unequal size. Berk 20; Kurth S1; SNG Ashmolean 760. Slight roughness and granularity, minor double strike. Good VF.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 2 . 390
KINGS of LYDIA. Kroisos. Circa 564/53-550/39 BC. AR Third Stater (15mm, 3.35 g). Sardes mint. Confronted foreparts of lion and bull / Two incuse squares. Berk 24; Kurth S5; SNG Ashmolean 772 (Persian period). Good VF. Good metal for issue.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 2 . 391
KINGS of LYDIA. Kroisos. Circa 564/53-550/39 BC. AR Sixth Stater (11.5mm, 1.65 g). Sardes mint. Confronted foreparts of lion and bull / Two incuse squares. Berk 25; Kurth S6–7; SNG Ashmolean 773 (Persian period). Good VF. Well centered on excellent metal. Choice for issue.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 2 . 392
KINGS of LYDIA. Kroisos. Circa 564/53-550/39 BC. AR Twelfth Stater (8.5mm, 0.78 g). Sardes mint. Confronted foreparts of lion and bull / Incuse square. Berk 26–7; Kurth S8; SNG Ashmolean 775 (Persian Period). Underlying luster, slight granularity on reverse and edge. Good VF. Choice for issue.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 2 . 393
KINGS of LYDIA. Kroisos. Circa 564/53-550/39 BC. AR Twenty-fourth Stater (6.5mm, 0.41 g). Sardes mint. Confronted foreparts of lion and bull / Incuse square. Berk –; Kurth S10; SNG Ashmolean 776–7 (Persian Period). Traces of find patina. Good VF. Well centered and excellent metal for issue.