Silver & Bronze

  PrevNext  

Lot 2484    SESSION 12 (9.30AM THURSDAY 1ST AUG)    Silver & Bronze

Estimate $3,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $8,500

SICILY, Thermai Himerenses, (c.400-350 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (16.45 g), obv. charioteer driving a quadriga of rearing horses to left, holding kentron in right hand, reins in left hand, Nike flying above and crowning charioteer, Greek legend **[QER]MITAN* in exergue, above exergue line [K]**L*H, rev. female nymph head to right crowned with swamp reeds leaves and placed in a sphendone, wearing single finely styled pendant earring and necklace, three dolphins around, (S.- (820), Jenkins, SNR 50, 6 [same dies, dies 04/R5, Pl.22], Pennisi ZfN 1935, Pl.IX, 1 [same dies], cf.Hirsch Sale XXX May 11, 1911 (lot 359 same reverse die], NFA Sale XXX, [same dies, lot 26 realised US$5750], Head, 2nd Edn. p.146 notes the Sambon piece). Light grey tone, good very fine/very fine, off centred on reverse, tight flan, very rare.

Ex Noble Numismatics Sale 118, lot 1593. Previously Numismatic Ars Classica Auction I, Zurich May 19, 1999 (lot 1233) and the Hannibal Collection, Noble Numismatics Sale 112, (lot 3830) and Sale 64 (lot 2418).^Jenkins records only two examples of this coin struck from these dies with only twenty recorded Thermai tetradrachms known. A hoard has provided several more examples including this piece.^The signature K**LH of the engraver has been suggested to be that of the master engraver Kletias. The issue followed the destruction of Himera in 409 B.C. and the population that fled were allowed to settle at Thermai next to the hot springs. This new city was also inhabited by Carthaginians who dominated that city. The city was allowed to strike a very small quantity of coinage similar in manner to that struck by other Sicilian Carthaginian mints. Only four obverse and five reverse dies are known for the coinage.

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.

Quick find

View a lot by number and sale.

Adjacent lots

  • Lot 2482  

    SICILY, Syracuse, reign of Hieronymos (215-214 B.C.), silver ten litrai, (8.49 g), obv. diademed head ...

    Estimate $1,200

  • Lot 2483  

    SICILY, Syracuse, Republic (214-212 B.C.), silver twelve litrai, (10.21 g), obv. head of Athena to ...

    Estimate $2,500

  • Lot 2484   This lot

    SICILY, Thermai Himerenses, (c.400-350 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (16.45 g), obv. charioteer driving a quadriga of ...

    Estimate $3,000

  • Lot 2485  

    SICULO-PUNIC, (c.410-395 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (17.31 g), obv. forepart of a horse with bridle to ...

    Estimate $4,000

  • Lot 2486  

    SICULO-PUNIC, mint of the camp, (c.320-310 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (17.02 g), obv. wreathed head of ...

    Estimate $8,000