Greek Silver & Bronze Coins

Lot 2593    SESSION 11 (9.30AM THURSDAY 25TH NOV)    Greek Silver & Bronze Coins

Estimate $1,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

CYPRUS, Idalion, silver tetrobol, (late 6th - early 5th century B.C.), (suggested 490-475 B.C.), (3.62 g), obv. Sphinx seated right struck from a worn die, rev. incuse square of irregular form, (cf.S.3603 [stater]. Bruder Egger, No.XLVI Prowe Sale 11/5/1914 lot 2312; cf.Asyut Hoard 777 [p.105 Pl.XX1X] Larnaca Hoard 4-6 [Num.Chron. 1935 p.167 Pl.XIII, 2-4] using the same reverse die as No.5 [Larnaca Hoard on a stater], cf.SNG Delepierie 2902 [Larnaca hoard specimen using same rev. die], cf.ACNAC Rosen 372 [Stater)](Pl.16), cf.ACNAC Dewing 2524 [stater Pl.124], cf. Traite 954 [p.602 Pl.XXVII,5], cf.BMC [p.xlviii-liii, Pl.V, 1-3]). Nearly fine/very fine, extremely rare use of a stater punch.

Ex private purchase from Simmons & Simmons, March 3, 1989, to Wayne Woolmer, April 19, 1989, sold in Spink (Noble Numismatics Sale 34 (lot 1886). This coin comes from the same reverse dies as that used for the Stater (c.11g) in the Larnaca Hoard (Pl.XIII,3) with its very irregular punch. Probably only two other known specimens, the other in the Prowe Sale Egger XLVI, (lot 2314) and the NFA Sale, Winter Mail bid 12/12/87 from the Rosen Colln. (lot 403, notes as same dies). See publication by the Australian Numismatic Society Report February 1989 (p.210), called "A New Denomination for the first issue of Idalion" written by C.Pitchfork, that describes and illustrates this coin.