Lot 4269.
ATTICA.
Athens. AR
Tetradrachm (16.96 gms), Leukios and Antikrates, magistrates, 72/1 B.C.
NGC EF, Strike: 5/5 Surface: 2/5. Light Scratches.
HGC-4, 1602; Thompson-1227a.1 (possibly this coin cited).
New Style coinage.
Obverse: Helmeted
head of
Athena right;
Reverse:
Owl, with
head facing, standing right on overturned
amphora; to right, Demeter and
Artemis standing; uncertain letter on
amphora, ΔI below; all within
wreath. Very attractively struck and having only faint traces of wear, this piece is a charming example of the popular
type, regardless of some scratches on the surfaces.
Thompson mentions 1227a.1 as encountered in "commerce 1955." Given Salton's activity in the business at the time, this well could be that example.
From the Mark and Lottie Salton
CollectionThis very
rare very late post Sullan
New Style was too rich for me. How on earth can it be EF 5/5 strike surface 2/5 light scratches. To my mind it originally Could have been gleaming when first minted but it quite obviously
from heavily worn used dies the surface of the coin as minted cannot be ascertained
cos it's
had a lot of handling after minting. So how on earth has it been graded as above... I would grade is as good-very
fine. Not a chance EF. To me it seems take it to a graded have it entombed in plastic that will slot in with your Mikey Mantel Baseball cards and your entombed Babe Ruth autographed autobiography as originally hand-written.
I kid you not it's a scam.
Luckily my leven later Diokles post Sullan
New Style only cost me £165 via
ebay. And I would grade it Strike 2/5 Surface 3/5
Good fine-very
fine