Ancient Gold

Lot 4307    Session 15 (7.30pm Friday)    Ancient Gold

Estimate $7,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $8,300

MACEDON, Kingdom of Philip II, (359-336 B.C.), gold stater, (8.614 grams), Pella mint, issued c.323-319 B.C., obv. head of Apollo to right with laureate wreath, rev. galloping biga driven by charioteer holding kentron in right hand, reins in left hand, bucranium (bull's head) facing one horn up another down, in exergue **FILIPPOU*, (cf.S.6663, Le Rider Group IIIa, No. 522 [same dies, obv. D222/R382], Troxell NS Studies 21 No.10, [p.137, Pl.30, 10 This Coin and from the Commerce Hoard 1993], Celator May 1993 back page [illustrated and priced at $5000 US]). As struck with mint bloom, of the finest style, FDC and extremely rare, being one of two known from these dies.

According to Le Rider the other example was in the Vinchon Sale 2nd - 4th May 1973 lot 507 which came from the Gantz Collection, Glendining Sale 27th May 1941 lot 113. This Example is described in Appendix 3 of the Commerce Hoard of 1993 [Troxell] and listed by Harlan J. Berk in a listing in colour on the back page of 'The Celator'. The style of portrait is that of Alexander the Great and almost identical to similar examples recently noted with a tripod symbol below.