Greek Silver & Bronze Coins

Lot 1764    SESSION 11 (9.30AM THURSDAY 24TH NOV)    Greek Silver & Bronze Coins

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

PELOPONNESOS, Argolis, Epidauros, (c.290/280-270s B.C.), silver hemidrachm. (2.63 g), 18 mm, squarish shape, obv. laureate head of Asklepios left, rev. E**P* monogram within wreath, (S.2810, Requier, Monnayage series 1, dies D4/R4, BCD Peloponnesos 1233 [same dies], Winterthur 2221 [same dies], HGC 5, 722[R]). Good very fine of good style on an exceptionally broad flan, rare.

Ex BCD, acquired from CNG privately January 2008.

The early Hellenistic coinage of Epidauros is of a very small issue and generally rare. Epidauros is considered the birthplace of the divine Asklepios, the most important healer god of antiquity, and consequently brought prosperity to the sanctuary, which in the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C. embarked on an ambitious building program for enlarging and reconstruction of monumental buildings. Fame and prosperity continued throughout the Hellenistic period. Asklepios was associated with antiquity's most famous sanctuary and place of pilgrimage for the sick, located just south of the city, the site famous in antiquity, included a temple, shrines, mineral springs, hotel and enkomitria (a large sleeping hall for the ill), and theatre. Their ruins remain a popular tourist destination today. In fact the famous theatre of the 3rd to 2nd centuries is well preserved and still in use today.
Recent sales in 2021 were for similar coins US $650-$800.