weight 14,91gr. ; silver Ø 32mm.

obv. Griffin with open pointed wing springing left, feather shown,
all within border op dots
rev. EΠI OB EO around quadripartite linear square

The Greek settlement Abdera was begun as a failed colony from Klazomenai, traditionally dated to 654 BC. The polis lay 17 km east-northeast of the mouth of the Nestos River, almost directly opposite the island of Thasos. Herodotus reports that the leader of the colony had been Timesios but, within his generation, the Thracians had expelled the colonists. Timesios was subsequently honored as a local protective spirit by the later Abderans from Teos. The successful foundation occurred in 544 BC, when the majority of the people of Teos (including the poet Anacreon) migrated to Abdera to escape the Persian yoke. The chief coin type, a griffon, is identical with that of Teos; the rich silver coinage is noted for the beauty and variety of its reverse types. Abdera had flourished especially in ancient times mainly for two reasons: because of the large area of their territory and their highly strategic position. The city controlled two great road passages (one of Nestos river and other through the mountains north of Xanthi). Furthermore, from their ports passed the sea road, which from Troas led to the Thracian and then the Macedonian coast.

In 513 and 512 BC, the Persians, under Darius conquered Abdera, by which time the city seems to have become a place of considerable importance, and is mentioned as one of the cities which had the expensive honour of entertaining the great king on his march into Greece. In 492 BC, after the Ionian Revolt, the Persians again conquered Abdera, again under Darius I but led by his general Mardonius. On his flight after the Battle of Salamis, Xerxes stopped at Abdera and acknowledged the hospitality of its inhabitants by presenting them with a tiara and scimitar of gold. Thucydides mentions Abdera as the westernmost limit of the Odrysian kingdom when at its height at the beginning of the Peloponnesian war. It later became part of the Delian League and fought on the side of Athens in the Peloponnesian war. Abdera was a wealthy city, the third richest in the League, due to its status as a prime port for trade with the interior of Thrace and the Odrysian kingdom. In 408 BC, Abdera was reduced under the power of Athens by Thrasybulus, then one of the Athenian generals in that quarter. A valuable prize, the city was repeatedly sacked: by the Triballi in 376 BC, Philip II of Macedon in 350 BC; later by Lysimachos of Thrace, the Seleucids, the Ptolemies, and again by the Macedonians. In 170 BC the Roman armies and those of Eumenes II of Pergamon besieged and sacked it. The town seems to have declined in importance after the middle of the 4th century BC. The ruins of the town may still be seen on Cape Balastra; they cover seven small hills, and extend from an eastern to a western harbor; on the southwestern hills are the remains of the medieval settlement of Polystylon.

with granulated quarters; the whole in incuse square.
The magistrate Ofeo seems to be unpublished for this coin type.
- coin of the highest rarity, possibly unique -

Sear- (cf. 1535) ; BMC- ; Weber collection- ; McClean - ;
AMNG - ; SNG.Copenhagen - ; HGC 3.2, - (cf. 1136) ; May - ;
von Fritze- ; James collection- ; Kraay - (cf. 530)  RRRR
vf+

weight 2,58gr. ; silver Ø 14mm.

obv. Eagle-griffin with feathered wing recumbent left,
AB behind
rev. Head of Hermes left, wearing petasos, caduceus in front, 
within linear square, around the legend EΠI HΡO ΦAN EOΣ

Sear- ; BMC-; SNG.Copenhagen 328 ; May 280 ; 
Weber Collection 2381 ; AMNG.111 ; HGC 3, no.1214 R
slightly off-centre strike
vf

weight 2,57gr. ; silver Ø 15mm.

obv. Eagle-griffin with feathered wing recumbent left,
raising right forepaw, ABΔH above, PITEΩN below
rev. Laureate head of Apollo right within linear square,
around the legend; EΠI PYΘ OKΛ EOΣ

BMC-; SNG.Copenhagen - ; May 550 ; Weber Collection - ;
SNG.Delepierre- ; SNG.Fitzwilliam- ; AMNG.- ;
HGC 3, no. 1227e (R2) ; Sear- (cf. 1554)  RR
vf

weight 9,96gr. ; silver Ø 22mm.

obv. Eagle-griffin with feathered wing recumbent right,
raising right forepaw, ABΔH above, PITEΩN below in exergue
rev. Laureate head of Apollo right, EΠI ΔH behind, MHTPIOY before

BMC 66 ; SNG.Copenhagen - ; May 534 ; Weber Collection - ;
SNG.Delepierre- ; SNG.Fitzwilliam 1643 ; AMNG.148 ;
McClean 4031 ; HGC 3, no. 1211e (R2) ; Sear- (cf. 1553)  RR
wonderful portrait of Apollo
vf/xf

weight 3,68gr. ; bronze Ø 16mm.

obv. Head of Hera left, wearing triple-drop earring; hair brushed  
up and adorned with laureate polos, within dotted border
rev. Goat standing left, AIΓO above, ΠO on right

Aigospotamoi was a Greek city on the hellespontine coast of the Thracian Chersonesos named after the nearby Goat River (Aigos Potamos in Greek). It was founded by the middle of the fourth century BC, but became deserted in the first century BC. Nothing is known of the city’s history an modern archaeology has yet to find its precise location. Aigospotamoi was most famous for a battle that took place in its vicinity before it was founded. In 405 BC, at the close of the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC) between Athens and Sparta, the famous Spartan general, Lysander, defeated a small Athenian force, led by Konon, at sea near Aigospotamoi, which permitted him to capture the remainder of the Athenian fleet (about 170 ships) on the beach. With their fleet in Spartan hands, the Athenians were helpless to oppose the Spartan advance on their city. Athens fell and the Peloponnesian War ended in the following year.

Aigospotamoi only struck small series of bronze coins, all of the same type, of three denominations (large, medium, small). The coin offered here is of the medium demonination. Rare.

BMC - (cf. pag.187 , no.2) ; SNG.Copenhagen 853 ; Weber Collection 2441var. ;
Lindgren collection- ; SNG.Delepierre- ; SNG.Fitzwilliam - ;
AMNG.-  ; McClean - (cf. 4131) ; HGC 3, no. 1261 ; Sear - RR
attractive dark patina
f/vf

weight 7,27gr. ; bronze Ø 19mm.

obv. Head of Dionysos right, wearing ivy wreath.
rev. Kantharos, A above, Λ on left, Ω on right;
grape bunch to lower left, fox standing right to lower right.

Alopekonnesos (“Fox Island”) was founded in the Thracian Chersonesos by Aiolian Greek colonist before the sixth century BC. The city owed its origin and name, according to Stephanos Byzantinos, to the fact that the first settlers had been commanded by an oracle to found a city on the spot where they should first see the cubs of a fox (AΛΩΠHΞ). For this reason a fox appears on coins of Alopekonnesos. The city was located on a headland in the Gulf of Melas and defended by walls, but its appearance in antiquity is otherwise largely unknown. The history of Alopokonnesos is very obscure. No coins of gold and silver are attributed to the city. We only know series of bronze coins, struck between 350 and 200 BC. All coins of this city are rare.

BMC pag.188, no.2 ; SNG.Fitzwilliam - ; SNG.Copenhagen- ;
Weber collection- ; SNG.Delepierre- ; Weber collection- ; McClean- ;
Yarkin, The Coinage of Alopeconnesus in Thracian Chersonesus 187,
978 p. 4, nr. 24 ; HGC 3 , no.1298 R
Light traces of oxidation. Rare.
f

weight 15,92gr. ; silver Ø 22mm.

obv. Head of youthful Hermes right, wearing petasos
ornamented with row of beads above brim
rev. Goat walking right, Silenshead before, AINI above

Hermes was the patron deity of Ainos, dating from the time of the Trojan War. In the Iliad, Homer mentions that the leaders of Troy′s Thracian allies, Acamas and Peiros, came from Aenus (Ainos). According to a poem by Kallimachos,  the sculptor who made the Trojan Horse, Epeios, also made a wooden statue of Hermes. The statue was washed out to sea and found by fishermen by the Hebros river. The fishermen thought it was just driftwood so they tried to use it to fuel a bonfire however,  it just wouldn′t burn. The fishermen were afraid so they threw it back into the sea where it promptly came back ashore. After that, the locals believed that it was a relic of the gods and built a sanctuary of Hermes Perpharaios (the Wanderer) at the nearby future site of Ainos.  The symbol of the goat on the reverse was a representation of the pasture land that provided prosperity for Ainos.

BMC- ; SNG.Copenhagen- ; AMNG.261 ; May 39 ; SNG.Lockett 1153 RR
very attractive early classical style
vf

weight 16,13gr. ; silver Ø 22mm.

obv. Head of Hermes right, in close-fitting conical petasos inscribed AINI
and ornamented with a row of beads above brim
rev. Goat standing right within linear frame, surrounded by the legend;
ANTIAΔAΣ, to right, Pan, horned, standing right, holding pedum in
right hand, left hand raised; all within incuse square.

Hermes was the patron deity of Ainos, dating from the time of the Trojan War. In the Iliad, Homer mentions that the leaders of Troy′s Thracian allies, Acamas and Peiros, came from Aenus (Ainos). According to a poem by Kallimachos,  the sculptor who made the Trojan Horse, Epeios, also made a wooden statue of Hermes. The statue was washed out to sea and found by fishermen by the Hebros river. The fishermen thought it was just driftwood so they tried to use it to fuel a bonfire however,  it just wouldn′t burn. The fishermen were afraid so they threw it back into the sea where it promptly came back ashore. After that, the locals believed that it was a relic of the gods and built a sanctuary of Hermes Perpharaios (the Wanderer) at the nearby future site of Ainos. The symbol of the goat on the reverse was a representation of the pasture land that provided prosperity for Ainos.

As noted by May, the tetradrachms of his Group XVI are ″unique among the coinage of Ainos,″ in that the ethnic was moved from the reverse and placed on Hermes′ petasos, while the goat was framed by a linear square around which was placed the name of Antiadas and the figure of Pan. Both the placement of the ethnic on the obverse and the addition of a magistrate′s name and symbol to the reverse are unlike all the other silver tetradrachms of Ainos, before and after, and these innovations were probably influenced by similar tetradrachms issued contemporaneously at the mints of Abdera and Maroneia. It is uncertain why these innovations were not continued in the subsequent series, but perhaps the answer lies in the lengthy pause between the end of the present series, circa 451/0 BC, and the beginning of the subsequent one, circa 435/4 BC. May′s Group XVI coinage is also the only instance where a magistrate′s name is found on the coins of Ainos, and this series is arguably the most intricate of all the profile bust tetradrachm series issued there in the early-mid 5th century.

cf. NAC auction 124, lot 94 (in good vf; SFR 12.000 + 23%)
cf. Nomos auction 33 (9 june 2024), lot 1051
(in vf with scrape and double strike; SFR 15.000 + 22,5%)  

BMC- ; SNG.Copenhagen- ; SNG.Fitzwilliam- ; AMNG.279 ;
SNG.Delepierre- ; May, Ainos, Group XVI, 85-91 ; De Sartagis 167 ;
Gillet 815 ; SNG.Lockett 1153 ; Pozzi 1018 ; Babelon Traité 1498 ;
Kraay&Hirm 421 ; Jameson 1050 ; McClean 3824 ;
Gulbenkian II 453 ; Moushmov 3827 ; HGC 3, no. 1267  (R2)  RR
Minor weakness. Attractive early classical style. Very rare.
vf/xf

weight 1,23gr. ; silver Ø 12mm.

obv. Head of youthful Hermes right, wearing petasos,
ornamented with row of beads above brim
rev. Goat walking right, crab below forelegs, above AINI

BMC- ; SNG.Copenhagen 399 ; AMNG.,pag.167,295 ; McClean 3840 R
vf-

weight 1,13gr. ; silver Ø 10mm.

obv. Head of youthful Hermes right, wearing petasos
ornamented with row of beads above brim
rev. Goat standing right, AINI above, vine-branch in front

BMC- ; SNG.Copenhagen 405 ; AMNG.,pag.167,303 ; cf. Sear 1567 R
vf

weight 1,11gr. ; silver Ø 11mm.

obv. Laureate head of Apollo facing
rev. Reversed anchor, A to left, crayfish to right

BMC 15 (Mysia) ; SNG.Copenhagen 459 ; Slg.Klein 85 ;
Stancomb collection 41-43 ; Topalov 2007, no.56 ;
Sear 1657 ; SNG.Black See, 169-173 ; HGC 3, no. 1315 ;
SNG Bulgaria, Numismatic Museum Ruse Collection, MN II, 333
wonderful example with attractive toning
xf-

weight 1,28gr. ; silver Ø 10mm.

obv. Laureate head of Apollo facing
rev. Reversed anchor, A to left, crayfish to right, MA outer left

BMC- (Mysia, cf. 15-16) ; SNG.Copenhagen - (cf. 459-461) ;
Stancomb collection 44 ; SNG.Tübingen- ; McClean - ; cf. SNG.BM I, 174 ;
cf. Topalov 2007, no.56 ; Sear- (cf. 1657) ; cf. HGC 3, no. 1315 R
vf-

weight 1,23gr. ; silver Ø 10mm.

obv. Laureate head of Apollo facing
rev. Reversed anchor, A to left, crayfish to right, KΛAY outer left

BMC- (Mysia, cf. 15-16) ; SNG.Copenhagen - (cf. 459-461) ;
Stancomb collection - (cf. 44-48) ; SNG.Tübingen- ; McClean - ;
Topalov 2007, no.56 ; Sear- (cf. 1657) ; HGC 3, no. 1315  RR
Wonderful coin with fine details and attractive toning. Very rare.
vf/xf à xf-

weight 1,25gr. ; silver Ø 8mm.

obv. Laureate head of Apollo facing
rev. Reversed anchor, A to left, crayfish to right, KT(H) outer left

BMC- (Mysia, cf. 15-16) ; SNG.Copenhagen - (cf. 459-461) ;
Stancomb collection - (cf. 44-48) ; SNG.Tübingen- ; McClean - ;
cf. Topalov 2007, no.56 ; Sear- (cf. 1657) ; cf. HGC 3, no. 1315 RR
Short flan. Attractive coin with fine details. Very rare.
vf+

weight 14,83gr. ; Ø 20mm.
Chian standard

obv. Cow standing left, foreleg raised, on dolphin, trident left below, ΠΥ above
rev. Stippled quadripartite incuse square

BMC 12var. ; SNG.Copenhagen - ; Schönert-Geiss 661 ; SNG.BM.- ;
SNG.Stancomb- ; Weber collection - (cf. 2543) ; SNG.Delepierre - ;
McClean- (cf. 4236) ; SNG.Fitzwilliam- ; Sear 1580var. ; HGC 3, no.1386 RR
Very well-centered and well-struck example of this very rare coin type.
vf/xf

weight 3,79gr. ; Ø 14mm.
Chian standard

obv. Cow standing left, foreleg raised, on dolphin, monogram left below, ΠΥ above
rev. Stippled quadripartite incuse square

cf. BMC 15 ; SNG.Copenhagen - ; Schönert-Geiss 661 ; SNG.BM.- ;
SNG.Stancomb- ; Weber collection - (cf. 2543) ; SNG.Delepierre - ;
McClean- (cf. 4237) ; SNG.Fitzwilliam- ; Sear 1581var. ; HGC 3, no.1387 R
reverse off-centre strike, but nearly as struck
xf

weight 1,91gr. ; silver Ø 11mm.
Chian standard

obv. Forepart of advancing cow left on dolphin,
ΠY above, monogram between forelegs
rev. Ornamented trident-head

BMC 23 ; SNG.Copenhagen 484var. ; Weber collection 2550var. ;
McClean 4238 ; Schönert-Geiss 750-855 ; HGC 3, no. 1388 S
Obverse off-centre strike. Attractive trident.
f/vf

weight 2,53gr. ; Ø 13mm.
Persic standard

obv. Cow standing left, foreleg raised, on dolphin, ΠY above
rev. Incuse square of  "mill-sail" pattern

BMC 16 ; SNG.Copenhagen 478-479 ; Weber collection 2546 ; Sear 1582 ;
SNG.Fitzwilliam 1670-1671 ; SNG.Stancomb collection 2 ; McClean- ;
SNG.Delepierre 792 ; Schönert-Geiss 1970, nos. 712-749 ; HGC 3, no.1390
Struck on a narrow flan, slightly off-centre. Attractive patina.
vf/xf à xf-

weight 2,50gr. ; Ø 12mm.
Persic standard

obv. Cow standing left, foreleg raised, on dolphin, ΠY above
rev. Incuse square of  "mill-sail" pattern

BMC 16 ; SNG.Copenhagen 478-479 ; Weber collection 2546 ; Sear 1582 ;
SNG.Fitzwilliam 1670-1671 ; SNG.Stancomb collection 2 ; McClean- ;
SNG.Delepierre 792 ; Schönert-Geiss 1970, nos. 712-749 ; HGC 3, no.1390
Struck on a narrow flan, slightly off-centre.
vf-

weight 2,47gr. ; Ø 11mm.
Persic standard

obv. Cow standing left, foreleg raised, on dolphin, ΠY above
rev. Incuse square of  "mill-sail" pattern

BMC 16 ; SNG.Copenhagen 478-479 ; Weber collection 2546 ; Sear 1582 ;
SNG.Fitzwilliam 1670-1671 ; SNG.Stancomb collection 2 ; McClean- ;
SNG.Delepierre 792 ; Schönert-Geiss 1970, nos. 712-749 ; HGC 3, no.1390
vf à vf+

weight 1,35gr. ; silver Ø 10mm.
Aiginetic standard

obv. Two young male heads facing, side by side, one upright, the other inverted
rev. Sea-eagle standing on dolphin left, IΣTPIH above, Θ below

The curious obverse type has been variously interpreted as representing the Dioskouroi, the rising and setting sun, and the supposed two branches of the river Danube (or Ister). The eagle and dolphin type is very similar to the reverse type used for contemporary drachms of Sinope in Paphlagonia, which may suggest a relationship between the two cities. Both had interests in the Euxine grain trade. All the Istros′ Aigenatic-weight coins barry an abbreviated Greek legend naming “the Istrians” as the issuing authority.

BMC - ; SNG.Copenhagen - (cf. 200) ; Weber collection - (cf. 2639) ;
SNG.Delepierre- ; AMNG.- ; SNG. Stancomb collection- ;
cf. Sear 1669 ; McClean - ; SNG.Fitzwilliam- ; cf. HGC 3, no. 1806 ;
SNG.München - (cf. 240) ; cf. Dima 2014, Group IV, Subgroups I-III RR
Some minor scuffs on the obverse. Very rare.
f/vf

weight 2,39gr. ; silver Ø 16mm.
Persic standard.

obv. Forepart of horse rightt, M - A across upper field, P Ω beneath
rev. Grape bunch and vine within dotted square border,
surrounded by the legend; EΠI / NOY/ MH / NIOY

BMC - ; Schönert-Geiss 577 ; SNG Copenhagen 624 ;
Mionnet  I, p. 389, no.163 ; Sear- (cf.1632) ;
Weber collection 2345 ; McClean 3973 ; HGC 3, 1535 R
Beautifully toned. Very attractive specimen.
vf/xf à vf+

weight 16,21gr. ; silver Ø 34mm.

obv. Head of youthful Dionysos right wreathed
with ivy and with band across forehead
rev. Dionysos, nude, standing left, holding grapes, drapery and
two narthex wands, two monograms in lower inner left and right field,
ΔIONYΣOY at right, ΣΩTHPOΣ at left, MAPΩNITΩN below

This cointype was struck after 148 BC, following the defeat of Andriscus by the Romans. Andriscus, a pretender, claimed to be the son of Perseus of Macedon. He was worker in woolen clothmaking, a fuller, from Adramyttium in Aeolis. He ruled Macedonia only for just one year, 149-148 BC. After his defeat the Romans made Macedonia to a Roman Province. The output of the great silver mines was sent to the Thracian mints of Maroneia and Thasos for conversion to coin.

BMC 59 ; Sear 1635 ; Schönert-Geiss 1118 ; Weber- (cf. 2349) ;
Corpus Nummorum Online type 2169, no.53854 ;
HGC 3, no. 1556 ; SNG.Copenhagen- (cf. 637-642) ;
SNG.Delepierre 804 ; SNG.Tübingen 885 ; McClean- (cf. 3978)
Although struck with somewhat worn obverse die, specimen
of good style with fine details, struck on a large flan. Very atttractive.
xf-

weight 4,62gr. ; bronze Ø 19mm.

obv. Diademed female head right
rev. Athena Alkidemos standing left, holding spear and shield  METAMBRIANΩN

Sear 1676var. ; BMC 8var. ; SNG.Copenhagen 660var.
f+

weight 6,13gr. ; Ø 20mm.

obv. Helmet
rev. Wheel

BMC- ; SNG.Copenhagen 658 R
dark patina
vf-

weight 6,20gr. ; bronze Ø 18mm.

obv. Laureate and bearded head right
rev. Horseman right, monogram below, in exergue OΔHΣIΩN

cf.Sear 1679 ; BMC- ; SNG.Copenhagen 670var. ; McClean 4416 ; cf.Pick 2202
f/vf

weight 2,83gr. ; bronze Ø 15mm.

obv. Laureate head of Apollo right
rev. The Great God reclining left, holding phiale and cornucopiae, thyrsos before

cf.Sear 1680 ; BMC 3-6var. ; SNG.Copenhagen 669var. ; Stancomb collection 254
f/vf

weight 4,97gr. ; bronze Ø 24mm.

obv. Head of Dionysos right
rev. Demeter standing left, holding cornears and scepter ΠEPINΘIΩN

BMC- ; SNG.Copenhagen- ; Weber collection- ; Lindgren collection- ;
Schönert 5, pl.118 RR
vf

weight 0,37gr. ; silver Ø 7mm.

obv. Laureate head of Apollo right
rev. Laurel branch within liniair square, with in the corners T- P - I - H

The town of Trieros is known solely from its coins. In most reference literature we see this coin type with the head of Apollo turned to the left. This type with the head to the right is only published in a few publications. Extremely rare.

BMC- (vgl.4-7) ; SNG.Copenhagen- (cf. 822) ; Rosen Collection- ;
SNG.Berry- (cf. 498) ; Slg.Klein- (cf. 99) ; McClean- (cf. 5053) ;
cf. SNG Fitzwilliam 1792 ; cf. Pozzi 758 ; cf. Weber collection 2399 ;
Dr. F. Imhoof-Blumer, The Numismatic Chronicle 1873, Volume 13,
page 2, no.6 (Pl.I, 9) ; Traité 1199 ; SNG.Lockett 1208 ; Sear- RRR
vf

weight 9,16gr. ; silver Ø 20mm.
first type ″archaic style″

obv. Naked ithyphallic Satyr in kneeling-running attitude right,
carrying in his arms a struggling nymph who raises her right arm in protest
rev. Rough quadripartite incuse square

The overtly sexual displays seen on many early Greek coins can be disconcerting to the modern eye, viewing them through the lens of centuries of Christian fulminations against ′paganism′ and its erotic excesses. These scenes are at their most graphic in northern Greece, showing the interplay of nymphs and satyrs. The towns and tribes of this region were only newly introduced to the ′civilizing′ influences of the south, and were still close to their roots in farming and herding cultures. Their gods were not the Olympian super beings, but the spirits of nature, and the emphasis was on celebrating the fecundity of fields and flocks.

Rare earliest issue of Thasos. This magnificent example of the first dies (Svoronos 1-5) of the long-running Thasos series of staters exudes power in the face of the satyr. Each of the heads is exceptionally detailed. The metal is superb. Unusual well-struck specimen of this famous and intriging archaic coin type.
Very rare this nice.

cf. NAC, auction 84, 20-21 May 2015, Lot 614 (in about xf  SFR 9.000 + 17,5%)

BMC 5 ; Weber collection 2500 ; SNG.Copenhagen 1007-1008 ;
McClean 4195 ; Svoronos Plate 10, 5 ; Le Rider, Thasiennes 1-2 ;
Babelon, Traité p. 1198, 1743 (Pl. LV, 18) ; Asyut hoard 117 ;
Jameson 1066 ; Pozzi 1109-1113 ; Sear 1357 ; HGC 6, no. 331
SNG Ashmolean 3642 ; Kraay-Hirmer 435 ; Gulbenkian 461 R
xf-

weight 9,68gr. ; silver Ø 20mm.
first type ″archaic style″

obv. Naked ithyphallic Satyr in kneeling-running attitude right,
carrying in his arms a struggling nymph who raises her right arm in protest
rev. Rough quadripartite incuse square

The overtly sexual displays seen on many early Greek coins can be disconcerting to the modern eye, viewing them through the lens of centuries of Christian fulminations against ′paganism′ and its erotic excesses. These scenes are at their most graphic in northern Greece, showing the interplay of nymphs and satyrs. The towns and tribes of this region were only newly introduced to the ′civilizing′ influences of the south, and were still close to their roots in farming and herding cultures. Their gods were not the Olympian super beings, but the spirits of nature, and the emphasis was on celebrating the fecundity of fields and flocks.

Rare earliest issue of Thasos. This magnificent example of the first dies (Svoronos 1-5) of the long-running Thasos series of staters exudes power in the face of the satyr. Each of the heads is exceptionally detailed. Nice example of this famous and intriging archaic coin type. Rare.

cf. NAC, auction 84, 20-21 May 2015, Lot 614 (in about xf  SFR 9.000 + 17,5%)

BMC 5 ; Weber collection 2500 ; SNG.Copenhagen 1007-1008 ;
McClean 4195 ; Svoronos Plate 10, 5 ; Le Rider, Thasiennes 1-2 ;
Babelon, Traité p. 1198, 1743 (Pl. LV, 18) ; Asyut hoard 117 ;
Jameson 1066 ; Pozzi 1109-1113 ; Sear 1357 ; HGC 6, no. 331
SNG Ashmolean 3642 ; Kraay-Hirmer 435 ; Gulbenkian 461 R
vf/xf

weight 3,25gr. ; silver Ø 16mm.
first type “archaic style”

obv. Naked ithyphallic satyr in kneeling-running attitude right, carrying
in his arms a struggling nymph who raises her right hand in protest
rev. Rough quadripartite incuse square

BMC 12 ; SNG.Copenhagen 1014 ; McClean 4200 ;
Svoronos Pl.X,6 ; Le Rider 3 ; Weber collection- ;
Babelon, Traité p.1199, 1748 (Pl. LV, 21) ; Pozzi 1114 ;
Jameson- ; Sear 1358 ; HGC 6 no.332 R

f/vf

weight 8,67gr. ; silver Ø 21mm.
second type “early classical style”

obv. Naked ithyphallic Satyr, with beard and long hair, in kneeling-running attitude
right, carrying in his arms a struggling nymph who raises her right arm in protest
rev. Rough quadripartite incuse square

Sear 1746 ; BMC 24 ; cf. Weber collection 2500 ; McClean 4197 ;
cf. Svoronos plate X, no.17 ; cf. SNG.Dewing 1321-1323 ;
Kraay, ACGC, 520 ; cf. Moushmov 5643 ; cf. SNG.Tübingen 940 ;
Le Rider, Thasiennes 5 ; Babelon, Traité p.1198, 1746 (Pl. LV, 26) ;
cf. SNG.Copenhagen 1010-1012 ; Pozzi 1117 ; HGC 6, 331

attractive, well centered specimen
vf

weight 6,75gr. ; silver Ø 21mm.
second type “early classical style”

obv. Naked ithyphallic Satyr, with beard and long hair, in kneeling-running attitude
right, carrying in his arms a struggling nymph who raises her right arm in protest
rev. Rough quadripartite incuse square

Thasos staters were struck according to the Thasian standard and normally weigh between circa 8.5 and 9.5 grams. This specimen is exceptionally light at 6.75 grams. The style is also less refined than usual. These deviations suggest that this is a contemporary imitation of the Thasos stater. This coin may have been minted according to a different coin standard. In those terms it corresponds better with the light Macedonian standard (tetradrachm ca. 13,90 gr.) A stater or didrachma would therefore weigh about 6.95 grams. As such highly interesting and rare.

Sear 1746var. ; BMC 24var. ; cf. Weber collection 2500 ; McClean 4197var. ;
cf. Svoronos plate X, no.17 ; cf. SNG.Dewing 1321-1323 ;
Kraay, ACGC, 520var. ; cf. Moushmov 5643 ; cf. SNG.Tübingen 940 ;
Le Rider, Thasiennes 5var. ; cf. Babelon, Traité p.1198, 1746 (Pl. LV, 26) ;
cf. SNG.Copenhagen 1010-1012 ; Pozzi 1117var. ; HGC 6, 331var. R
light scratches on reverse
vf-

weight 6,19gr. ; silver Ø 21mm.
second type “early classical style”

obv. Naked ithyphallic Satyr, with beard and long hair, in kneeling-running attitude
right, carrying in his arms a struggling nymph who raises her right arm in protest
rev. Rough quadripartite incuse square

Thasos staters were struck according to the Thasian standard and normally weigh between circa 8.5 and 9.5 grams. This specimen is exceptionally light at 6.19 grams. The style is also less refined than usual. These deviations suggest that this is a contemporary imitation of the Thasos stater. This coin may have been minted according to a different coin standard. In those terms it corresponds better with the light Macedonian standard (tetradrachm ca. 13,90 gr.) or the Thraco-Macedonian standard (tetradrachm ca. 13.00 grams). A stater or didrachma would therefore weigh about 6.95 or 6.50 grams. As such highly interesting and rare.

Sear 1746var. ; BMC 24var. ; cf. Weber collection 2500 ; McClean 4197var. ;
cf. Svoronos plate X, no.17 ; cf. SNG.Dewing 1321-1323 ;
Kraay, ACGC, 520var. ; cf. Moushmov 5643 ; cf. SNG.Tübingen 940 ;
Le Rider, Thasiennes 5var. ; cf. Babelon, Traité p.1198, 1746 (Pl. LV, 26) ;
cf. SNG.Copenhagen 1010-1012 ; Pozzi 1117var. ; HGC 6, 331var. R
Attractive patina.
vf-

weight 0,36gr. ; silver Ø 8mm.

obv. Head of horned, bald and bearded Silenos right
rev. Two dolphins, the upper dolphin swimming left,
the lower swimming right, surrounded by the letters Θ - A - Σ

Sear 1756 ; SNG.Copenhagen 1033 ; BMC 60-62var. ;
Weber collection 2521 ; Pozzi- ; Jameson- ; Babelon, Traité IV,
p.713, 1135-1137 (Pl.CCCXXII, 10-12 ; McClean 4218 ;
Mitchiner ATAEC 832 ; HGC 6, 340 R
rare coin type
vf-

weight 0,79gr. ; silver Ø 11mm.
Chian standard

obv. Silenos running left, holding kylix
rev. Kantharos, ΘAΣ on left, IΩN on right

cf. Peus nachf. Auktion 428, lot 90 (in xf; 3.200 + 20%)

Sear 1755 ; BMC 53-56 ; SNG.Copenhagen 1029-1030 ;
Dewing collection 1331 ; SNG.Delepierre 828 ; SNG.Fitzwilliam 1818 ;
Babelon, Traité IV, p.723, 1153 (Pl.CCCXXIII, 13) ; Jameson 1071 ;
Weber collection 2516 ; Pozzi 1123 ; Le Rider Pl. II, 27 ; HGC 6, 351
minor traces of oxidation / roughness
vf/vf+

weight 0,80gr. ; silver Ø 12mm.
Chian standard

obv. Silenos running right, holding kylix
rev. Kantharos, ΘAΣ on left, IΩN on right

cf. Peus nachf. Auktion 428, lot 90 (in xf; 3.200 + 20%)

BMC 58 ; SNG.Copenhagen 1031 ; SNG.Delepierre - ;
Dewing collection 1329-1330 ; SNG.Fitzwilliam - ; Pozzi- ;
Babelon, Traité IV, p.723, 1151 (Pl.CCCXXIII, 11) ; Jameson - ;
Sear- (cf. 1755) ; Weber collection 2520 ; Le Rider Pl. II, 26 ;
HGC 6, 350

some very minor light scratches
vf à vf+

weight 16,84gr. ; silver Ø 33mm.

obv. Head of youthful Dionysos to right, wearing elaborate ivy wreath with
leaves and berries, and with his hair partially knotted at the back and partially
falling down the back of his neck
rev. Youthful Herakles, nude but for laurel wreath and lion′s skin over his
left shoulder, standing facing, his head to left, holding club with his right
hand and resting his left at his waist, to inner left, letter M, HPAKΛEOYΣ
ro right, ΣΩTHPOΣ to left, ΘAΣIΩN in exergue

usual, somewhat primitive style 

BMC 72 ; SNG Copenhagen 1039 ; HGC 6, 359 ;
Dewing 1337 ; Prokopov Group XIX, V GB1
very attractive, well centered specimen
vf/xf

weight 16,11gr. ; silver Ø 30mm.

obv: Head of youthful Dionysos to right, wearing elaborate ivy wreath
with leaves and berries, and with his hair partially knotted at the back
and partially falling down the back of his neck
rev: Youthful Herakles, nude but for laurel wreath and lion′s skin over
his left shoulder, standing facing, his head to left, holding club with his
right hand and resting his left at his waist, to inner left, letter M,
HPAKΛEOYΣ ro right, ΣΩTHPOΣ to left, ΘAΣIΩN in exergue

BMC 72 ; SNG Copenhagen 1039 ; HGC 6, 359 ; Dewing 1337
Good style for the type. Attractive toning.
vf

weight 13,16gr. ; silver Ø 31mm.

obv: Head of youthful Dionysos to right, wearing elaborate ivy wreath
with leaves and berries, and with his hair partially knotted at the back
and partially falling down the back of his neck
rev: Youthful Herakles, nude but for laurel wreath and lion′s skin over
his left shoulder, standing facing, his head to left, holding club with his
right hand and resting his left at his waist, to inner left, MH-monogram,
HPAKΛEOYΣ ro right, ΣΩTHPOΣ to left, ΘAΣIΩN in exergue

The weight of this tetradrachm, which is without any doubt genuine, is circa 3,5 gram too low. This may have been caused by some clipping. As this cointype has been imitated by Celtic tribes in the Danube area on a large scale, a low weight Celtic imitation also would be a plausible explanation.

BMC 74 ; SNG Copenhagen 1040 ; HGC 6, 359 ; SNG.Lockett 1242
Minor flan crack and minor flan failures. Attractive toning.
vf/vf+