22-04-2012 – 01-01-1970
Four Iconic Greek Coins
Iconic Greek coins at record prices
Morton & Eden sold four iconic Greek coins on 23 April 2012. The four gems of ancient coinage attributed to famous masters were auctioned at record prices totalling an amount of £1,008,000 (US$ 1,622,880). The prices shown include the Buyer’s Premium of 20%.
Lot 201
Sicily, Naxos, tetradrachm, c. 460 BC, attributed to the Aitna Master, bearded head of Dionysos right, crowned with ivy, his hair tied in krobylos at back of neck, rev., N – AXI – ON, Silenos, nude and ithyphallic, squatting on the ground, raising a kantharos to his lips and supporting himself with his left hand, 17.25g, die axis 10.00, extremely fine.
Estimate: £150,000-200,000, sold for £384,000 ($618,240). Purchased by private collector.
Lot 202
Sicily, Syracuse, dekadrachm, by Kimon, c. 405 BC, fast quadriga driven left by charioteer who holds goad over horses in extended right hand and reins in left; above, Nike flies right holding wreath to crown charioteer; on upper side of exergual line, traces of signature, KIMON in tiny letters; below, in exergual area, on two steps, panoply of arms consisting of shield, cuirass between two greaves and helmet; below, [ATH]L[A], rev., SYRAKOSION, head of Arethusa left, her hair in ampyx and held in a net at back of head, wearing triple-drop earring and pearl necklace; on ampyx, signature KI/M; three dolphins around head, a fourth emerging from truncation of neck, 43.02g, die axis 10.00, with some double striking and a few very minor marks, otherwise extremely fine and an exceptional specimen from Kimon’s earliest dekadrachm dies.
Estimate: £200,000-300,000, sold for £240,000 ($386,400). Purchased by European dealer.
Lot 203
Sicily, Syracuse, dekadrachm, by Kimon, c. 405-400 BC, fast quadriga driven left by charioteer who holds goad over horses in extended right hand and reins in left; above, Nike flies right holding wreath to crown charioteer; on upper side of exergual line, signature, [KI]MON in tiny letters; below, in exergual area, on two steps, panoply of arms consisting of shield, cuirass between two greaves and helmet; below, [ATHLA], rev., SYRAKOSIO, head of Arethusa left, her hair in ampyx and held in a net at back of head, wearing a single, inverted tear-drop earring and pearl necklace; on ampyx, signature K; four dolphins around head with that below the neck bearing the artist’s full signature, KIMON, 43.28 g, die axis 6.00, with the usual die flaw visible on the reverse, toned, extremely fine and exceptionally well struck in high relief, one of the finest known specimens from the dies which bear three signatures of the artist.
Estimate: £150,000-200,000, sold for £228,000 ($367,080). Purchased by European dealer.
Lot 204
Sicily, Syracuse, dekadrachm, by Euainetos, c. 400 BC, fast quadriga driven left by charioteer who holds goad over horses in extended right hand and reins in left; above, Nike flies right holding wreath to crown charioteer; below, in exergual area on two steps, panoply of arms consisting of shield, cuirass between two greaves and helmet; below, ATH[L]A, rev., SYRAKOSION, head of Arethusa left, her hair wreathed with reeds, wearing a triple-drop earring and pearl necklace; four dolphins around head; below neck, the artist’s signature EU – AINE, 42.81 g, die axis 7.00, one minor scratch on the obverse but beautifully centred on a broad flan, toned and extremely fine, an exceptional piece.
Estimate: £150,000-200,000, sold for £156,000 ($251,160). Purchased by European dealer.
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