| Last additions - Enodia's Gallery |
Taras, Calabria302-228 BC
AR Obol (8mm, 0.42g)
O: Kantharos; 3 pellets around.
R: Kantharos; owl in field to left.
Vlasto 1660; SNG France 2216; HN Italy 1076
ex LAC
EnodiaJan 31, 2023
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Velia, Lucania305-290 BC
AR Diobol (11mm, 0.93g)
O: Head of nymph right, hair in sakkos with loose ribbon dangling behind; (?) symbol before.
R: Owl facing with wings spread, [standing on Z].
Williams 636; SNG ANS 1278; HGC I, 1334; HN Italy 1324
Scarce
ex Savoca Numismatics
EnodiaJan 11, 2023
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Herakleia, Lucania330/25 - 281 BC
AR Didrachm (20mm, 7.55g)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Skylla throwing stone; K to right.
R: Herakles standing facing, holding club in right hand and bow in left, lion's skin draped over left arm, Nike crowning from above; AΛ to left, Σ to right.
Van Keuren 80; SNG ANS 68; Hands Period II, 6; HGC I, 981; HN Italy1383
ex Ancient Art and Treasures
Although not rare, this obverse more typically has the Herakles strangling the Nemean lion reverse, while this Herakles standing reverse is usually paired with a Corinthian helmeted Athena. In fact many attributions incorrectly refer to the Corinthian type, as this coin was.
The 'K' in front of Athena (a bit distorted here) may be the signature of Kleudoras, a master engraver in southern Italy at this period. Although I can find no solid verification of this, a comparison of the artistic style of this Athena with those of the didrachms of Velia seem to show a similarity.
A classic example of Magna Graecian numismatic art, imo.EnodiaNov 19, 2022
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Stratonikeia, Caria140-80 BC
AR Hemidrachm (13mm 0.90g)
Pamphilos magistrate
O: Laureate head of Hekate right, hair rolled and wearing a cresent moon headband.
R: Nike advancing right, holding palm frond and wreath; ΠAMΦIΛOC (magistrate) above, all within incuse square.
SNG Helsinki 253
ex Tom Vossen
"Lord Helios and the sacred flame,
weapon of Hekate Enodia,
which She bears when leading in Olympos
and in Her haunts by the sacred three-ways on Earth,
crowning Herself with oak leaves
and twisting coils of wild serpents."
~ Sophokles
EnodiaOct 18, 2022
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Byzantion, Thracelate 3rd - 2nd century BC
AE 25 (25mm, c. 9g)
O: Veiled head of Demeter right, wreathed in grain.
R: Poseidon seated right on rocks, holding aphlaston in raised right hand and trident over shoulder in left; KAΛXA to left and BYΞAN to right.
SNG COP 530
ex Heritage Auctions; ex Forvm Ancient Coins
An interesting coin commemorating an alliance between Byzantion and Kalchedon, resulting in an unusual issue featuring two ethnics.
Not an uncommon coin, but these elegant dies are not typical of the issue, and the only other specimen I was able to find with such a pretty portrait is probably from these same dies.
I love this coin!
EnodiaOct 02, 2022
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Taras, Calabria 425-380 BC
AR Obol (11mm, 0.55g)
O: Head of nymph Satyra right.
R: Club and strung bow diagonally; 5 pellets around.
Very rare
Vlasto 1212-13; SNG ANS 1352-53; HN Italy 858
ex Artemide Aste
An unusual early fractional, it is also the subject of some confusion. Vlasto describes the obverse as "Bare-headed Athena right against aegis", however I see no aegis on this specimen, and the Vlasto plates are not clear either. A bare-headed Athena would be quite atypical for Taras, while the nymph Satyra, mother of the baby Taras, is a very common theme on these earlier
coins.
EnodiaSep 27, 2022
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Taras, Calabria470-465 BC
AR Didrachm (18.5mm, 7.95g)
O: Phalanthos riding dolphin left, arms outstretched; scallop shell below.
R: Head of nymph Satyra left, hair tied back in knot, within circular border; all within circular incuse.
Scarce
Vlasto 145 (3rd Group); Fischer-Bossert 95, V49/R63 (Group 5); SNG France 1596-99; SNG ANS 843; HN Italy 838; HGC I, 756
ex Savoca Numismatics
An interesting early, pre-equestrian didrachm featuring Satyra, mother of Taras.EnodiaSep 09, 2022
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Velia, Lucania535-480 BC
AR Obol (8mm, 0.61g)
O: Forepart of lion right, tearing at stag's leg.
R: Irregular incuse square.
Williams 34-35; SNG ANS 1221; HN Italy 1261; HGC I, 1337v (lion left)
Rare
ex LAC
A fine example of late archaic art, this is now the oldest coin in my collection.
EnodiaSep 02, 2022
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Velia, Lucania4th-2nd century BC
AE 15 (15mm, 2.91g)
O: Head to Herakles right, wearing lion's skin headdress.
R: Owl standing left on olive sprig, head facing; YEΛH behind.
SNG ANS 1414-15; Di Bello 208; HN Italy 1332; HGC I, 1342
Rare
ex Marcantica
References give a broad date range to this lovely bronze, but I think we can be a little more specific. The fine style, especially of the bust, look much more like late 4th century-ish and leads me to believe this coin should be placed earlier within the period.
EnodiaSep 02, 2022
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Taras, Calabria 271-228 BC
AR Diobol (10mm, 0.74g)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Skylla hurling stone.
R: Infant Herakles, nude, strangling a serpent with each hand; monogram to left, ΛE in exergue.
Vlasto 1460-61; HN Italy 1068; Cote ---; SNG France ---; McGil ---
Very scarce
ex Munzhandlung Ritter
A scarce diobol showing the infant Herakles strangling the two serpents sent by Hera to kill him, it becomes even scarcer with Athena facing right.
Vlasto has two specimens, both of which describe the Her helmet as decorated with a 'sea horse' (hippocamp), but which is actually a 'Skylla hurling stone' type.
The damage to this coin is unfortunate but did bring the price down without really affecting the devices, other than impairing Athena's otherwise full crest.
EnodiaJul 14, 2022
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Taras, Calabria 300-250 BC
AE13 (13mm, 2.03g)
O: Octopus
R: Scallop shell
Vlasto 1855; SNG Cop 1089; HN Italy 1095 (as Taras); SNG ANS 447 (as Kroton); HN Italy 2240 (as Kroton)
Very rare
ex Bertolami Fine Arts
A very rare and enigmatic coin with conflicted attributions.
SNG Copenhagen places this coin at Taras, as does Vlasto, although Vlasto puts it under the heading "Bronze Coins Doubtfully Attributed to Tarentum" and claims Kroton as a probable alternative.
SNG ANS gives it clearly to Kroton, while HN Italy seems to attribute both cities with varying catalog numbers.
I believe this coin is likely from Kroton as this city-state often used the octopus is a common device there. However I'm placing it in my Taras file due to its Vlasto number. EnodiaAug 25, 2021
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Seleukid Kingdom, Reign of Antiochos IV (Epiphanes)175-173/2 BC
AE16 (16mm, 3.55g)
O: Veiled bust of Laodike IV, within dotted border.
R: Elephant's head left, tripod behind; BAΣIΛEΩΣ - ANTIOXOY above and below, [ΘE]K ex.
Antioch mint
Sear 1691v
ex Marc Breitsprecher Numismatics EnodiaMay 29, 2021
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| Random files - Enodia's Gallery |
Syracuse, Reign of Agathokles317-289 BC
AE16 (17mm, 3.71g)
O: Head of Kore (Persephone) left; ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ before, amphora behind.
R: Bull butting left; monogram above.
HGC 2, 1469; Calciati II, p. 238, 108; Sear 1195v
ex Aegean Numismatics
Enodia
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Syracuse, Timoleon and the Third Democracy344-336 BC
AE Hemidrachm (23mm, 12.40g)
O: Laureate head of Zeus Eleutherios right, hair short; ZEYΣEA EΛE-YΘEPIOΣ
to right.
R: Thunderbolt; eagle with closed wings standing to right; ΣYPAKOΣIΩN around.
HGC 2, 1440; Calciati II p. 167, 72; SNG ANS 477ff; SNG Cop 727; Sear 1192
ex Forvm Ancient Coins
Timoleon was cool.Enodia
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Apameia, Phrygia3rd Century AD
Pseudo-autonomous
AE15 (15mm, 2.27g)
O: Draped and turreted bust of Tyche right; AΠA-MEIA.
R: Hekate Triformis standing facing, wearing polos and double chiton, and holding 4 torches and 2 patera; CΩTEI-PA.
SNG von Aulock 3475; SNG Cop 195-96; BMC 110-13
ex Gert Boersema
Enodia
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