Ancient Gold Coins

Sale 125    24–27 Nov 2020   Dixson Room, State Library of NSW   Sydney

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Lot 4394    SESSION 11 (2PM FRIDAY 27TH NOVEMBER)    Ancient Gold Coins

Estimate $800
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $700

LESBOS, Mytilene, c.430 B.C., electrum hekte (2.52 g), Bodenstedt dates 440-430 B.C., obv. head of Aktaion with stag's ear and small horn to right, his hair falling on his shoulders in coarse locks, rev. Gorgon head facing within linear square, (cf.S.4246 [£850]; Bodenstedt 54 [same dies as obv. b/ rev. **b*], BMC 52 [Pl.XXXII, 22 same dies]; SNG Von Aulock 7735, SNG Lockett 2760, SNG Fitz. 4348, Boston MFA 1701). Very fine, good style, very rare.

Ex Munzen & Medaillen, Deutschland Auction 9, October 4-5, 2001 (lot 238 illustrated).
Aktaion had inadvertenly seen Artemis bathing, In her anger she changed him into a stag and he was torn to pieces by her own dogs. This myth is popular in Greek vase painting but only found on coins from Kyzikos, Lampsakos and this hekte of Mytilene and in all cases for one issue only. On this piece the transformation from a youth to the stag is illustrated with the hair turning into a mane.
Bodenstedt knew of only four examples of this type from these dies.

Estimate / sale price does not include buyer's premium (currently 22% including GST) which is added to hammer price. All bids are executed on the understanding that the Terms & Conditions of sale have been read and accepted. For information on grading and estimates please refer to the Buying at Auction advice.

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  • Lot 4394   This lot

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    Estimate $800

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  • Lot 4396  

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