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Akragas (Agrigentum), SicilyObv: AK to r. above, inward; AR to l. below, outwards (R is reversed); eagle with closed wings to l. standing on Ionic capital.1 Border of dots.
Rev: crab2 seen from above, ΛΙ below (mark of value, ΛΙ = litra).
Denomination: silver litra; Mint: Akragas (Agrigentum, Sicily); Date: Period of Transitional Art, BC 472-circ. to BC 413; Weight: .574g; Diameter: 10.7mm; Die axis: 0º; References, for example: BMC Sicily p. 9 no. 50; Traité Plate LXXVIII no. 15 & 16 and Volume I p. 1547 no. 2332 & 2333; McClean 2036.
Notes:
1In BMC Sicily Poole refers to the perch as the capital of a Corinthian column (p. 9) while Grose in McClean refers to the column as Ionic (p. 238).
2In HN Head discusses that the crab probably represents "...the fresh-water crab common in the rivers of Italy, Sicily, and Greece. If so the crab represents the river Akragas and is the παρασημον [sign or emblem?] of the city." (p. 120).
Provenance: Ex Forum Ancient Coins March 30, 2020; Ex Forum Ancient Coins 2018.
Photo Credits: Forum Ancient Coins
CLICK FOR SOURCESTracy Aiello
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Assos, TroasGriffin and Lion Head
Obv: Griffin recumbent r. with l. forepaw raised. Border of dots.
Rev: Lion’s head r. Mouth open. All within incuse square.
Denomination: Silver hemiobol; Mint: Assos, Troas; Date: c. 479 - 450 BC; Weight: 0.286g; Diameter: 6.8mm; Die axis: 180º; References, for example: BMC Troas, p. 36, 3; Weber 5318.
Provenance: Ex. Forum Ancient Coins May 29, 2021.
Photo Credits: Forum Ancient Coins
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Tracy Aiello
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Calabria, Italy. City of TarentumAthena and Owl -- Skylla on Helmet
Obv: head of Athena right, wearing crested helmet, decorated with Skylla hurling stone.
Rev: owl standing right on an olive spray, head facing, wings closed, TAP clockwise upper left, ZOP (magistrate, Z appearing as H) downward over olive branch on right.
Denomination: silver drachm; Mint: Tarentum (Calabria, Italy); Date: Period VI, 302 - 281 BC; Weight: 3.153g; Diameter: 15.2mm; Die axis: 0º; References, for example: BMC Italy, p. 201 no. 309; SNG Cop vol. 2, 952 to 957; HN Italy 975.
Provenance: Ex. Forum Ancient Coins March 4, 2020; Ex. Pegasi Auction 14, April 11, 2006, lot 17.
Photo Credits: Forum Ancient Coins
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Tracy Aiello
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City of Pergamon, Mysia, Asia MinorCistophori - Cista Mystica
Obv: Cista Mystica with a half open lid, serpent issuing from the l., all within an ivy wreath.
Rev: to l. on its side ethinic mint monogram of Pergamon (ΠΕΡΓ), two coiled serpents with heads erect, between them an ornamented bow case with strap containing a strung bow, to r. eagle on fulmen, star above.
Denomination: silver cistophoric tetradrachm; Mint: Pergamon (Mysia); Date: 166 - 160 BC1; Weight: 11.91g; Diameter: 28mm; Die axis: 0º; References, for example: BMC Mysia p. 123 no. 87 var., no mention of fulmen or star; SNGvA 1368 (eagle?); Kleiner-Noe Series 6, 11-g; Sear GCV II 3944 var., no mention of fulmen or star.
Notes:
1This is the date given in Kleiner-Noe.
Provenance: Ex Shanna Schmidt Numismatics April 28, 2020
Photo Credits: Shanna Schmidt Numismatics
CLICK FOR SOURCESTracy Aiello
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Lampsakos, MysiaJaniform Female Heads and Athena
Obv: Janiform female heads, each wearing stephanos, with central round earring between them. Border of dots.
Rev: Head of Athena facing l., wearing a Corinthian helmet, olive spray upper left field. All within incuse square.
Denomination: Silver tritartemorion; Mint: Lampsakos, Mysia; Date: c. 500 - 470 BC; Weight: 0.775g; Diameter: 9.7mm; Die axis: 0º; References, for example: Baldwin Lampsakos Group A Type I, Pl. V, 17.
Provenance: Ex Forum Ancient Coins October 19, 2020.
Photo Credits: Forum Ancient Coins
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Tracy Aiello
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The Island of LesbosCity of Mytilene - Apollo and Aphrodite with Snake
Obv: laureate head of Apollo facing r.
Rev: head of Aphrodite facing r., circular earing, hair rolled, coiled snake r. (control symbol) in the lower r., MY (off flan).
Denomination: silver diobol; Mint: Mytilene; Date: 400 - 350 BC; Weight: 1.292g; Diameter: 12.4mm; Die axis: 0º; References, for example: BMC Troas, p. 185, 8 - 14 var., coiled snake control symbol not listed; SNG Cop vol. 21, 368 var., amphora control symbol; SNGvA vol. 5, 1744 var. stars for control symbol; SNGvA vol. 16, 7749 and 7750 var., amphora and cicada for control symbol; SNG Ashmolean 1544 var., cicada for control symbol; HGC 6, 1037 (amphora, cicada, oinochoe, star, or thunderbolt control symbols).
Also see Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 460 January 29, 2020, Lot 238 for an example with coiled snake control symbol and intact legend.
Provenance: Ex Forum Ancient Coin January 22, 2020, from the Maxwell Hunt Collection.
Photo Credits: Forum Ancient Coins
CLICK FOR SOURCESTracy Aiello
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The Island of LesbosCity of Mytilene - Apollo and Aphrodite with Amphora
Obv: laureate head of Apollo facing r.
Rev: head of Aphrodite facing r., circular earing, hair rolled, amphora r. (control symbol) in the lower r., MY[TI?] (off flan).
Denomination: silver diobol; Mint: Mytilene; Date: 400 - 350 BC; Weight: 1.33g; Diameter: 10mm; Die axis: 120º; References, for example: BMC Troas, p. 185, 8 - 14 var., amphora control symbol not listed; SNG Cop vol. 21, 368; SNGvA vol. 16, 7749; HGC 6, 1037.
Provenance: Ex. cgb.fr Numismatics April 19, 2021
Photo Credits: cgb.fr Numismatics
CLICK FOR SOURCESTracy Aiello
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Wolf Forepart, Eagle On Harpa, Large AArgos, Argolis (Peloponnese Peninsula)
Obv: forepart of wolf1 facing l., 𝝝 [a circle with a dot inside] above.
Rev: large A in shallow incuse square; 𝚪 to l. of top of A, Υ to r. of top of A, below an eagle with closed wings standing r. on harpa.
Denomination: silver triobol2; Mint: Argos; Date: c. 322 - 229 BC3; Weight: 2.5g; Diameter: 15mm; Die axis: 120º; References, for example: BMC Peloponnese p. 142 no. 79 and 80; Traité III, p. 470, no. 640, pl. CCXVI no. 114; McClean II p. 457 no. 6835; BCD Peloponnesos 1111 and 1112.
Notes:
1According to Head in Historia Numorum "[t]he wolf is the well known symbol of Apollo Lykios, whose worship at Argos dates from very remote times."
2McClean states "Nos. 6801 seq. are more conveniently regarded as Attic tetrobols than Aeginetic triobols or hemidrachms." (p. 455).
3This is the date given in Head Historia Numorum and McClean.
4Interestingly there is no mention of the device, circle with the dot inside, above the wolf but it is clearly visible when looking at no. 11 on plate CCXVI.
Provenance: Harlan J. Berk June 10, 2020
Photo Credits: Harlan J. Berk
CLICK FOR SOURCESTracy Aiello
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