thank you areich, that was my meaning exactly. nobody outside of ancient collecting knows what an Eid Mar is, or even an Alexander tet. but everyone has seen the Athenian owl. it is still used today to sell Greek products, etc.
While non-collectors probably don't know what the
Eid Mar coin is, a quick description makes it instantly recognizable. Students are taught the story of Julius Caesar's assassination and the phrase "Beware the Ides of March" is used within the Shakespeare play "
Julius Caesar", which is read in most high schools (at least in the US). I'd suggest that any coin of
Julius Caesar, especially a
portrait denarius, is the equivalent of a Babe Ruth. He has the household name recognition and significant demand behind it.
For non-collectors, I think the a Colosseum
sestertius would also be very compelling, especially considering that everyone knows the Colosseum in its broken form today but the
sestertius represents the earliest surviving
contemporary depiction.
The Kimon
head facing
tetradrachm would probably also be high up in the running, especially the one sold as
part of the David Walsh
collection by NAC earlier this year, but perhaps a Phanes
stater or trite should also be included, as well as a striated
stater, representing the
first coins. If looking for artistry, my heart is owned by Euainetos and
his dekadrachms are truly beautiful.
But, my
pick would have to be the
Akragas dekadrachm. It has exclusivity with few available pieces and the scene is incredibly dynamic, not to mention its heft.
Rich Beale is right - there are too many choices and all are fantastic. And to think, all of the above pieces and more can be acquired for the
price of the
high grade 1794 US dollar which sold recently!
