NUMISMATIK LANZ AUCTION 155, DECEMBER 2012

Boii. Nonnos. Hexadrachm, ca. 1st century BC. Göbl XIV/1a

Starting off the auction are 16 coins from the world of the Celts. Of particular note here is a hexadrachm dating back to the 1st century BC that features the inscription NONNOS. Its obverse depicts the head of a nymph that is based on a very special type from the city of Terina (No. 5, Estimate: 10,000 EUR). The prototype itself dates all the way back to the years between 440 and 425 BC. People have pointed to this as earliest evidence of a coin collection – J. Lorenz claims that the Celtic ruler Nonnos had a collection of Greek coins at his princely residence, from which he took the example from Terina to show to a craftsman in order to have the exact same type of coins issued in his name.

Getas, King of the Edonians (ca. 480-460). Oktadrachm, around 470.

Let’s now take a look at the 346 Greek coins in this auction, among which there are numerous precious pieces just waiting for connoisseurs to discover. Take, for example, a late archaic, extremely fine nomos from Sybaris acquired at the Egger Münzhandlung in Vienna in 1906 for 45 kronen (No. 29; Estimate: 5,000 EUR), or perhaps a tetradrachm from Agrigentum featuring two eagles, gorging on a rabbit (No. 31, Estimate: 6,000 EUR). Incidentally, a dekadrachm of the same type recently became the most expensive ancient coin ever sold in Europe. Also worth noting here is the wonderful tetradrachm from Catane, minted around 450 BC (No. 40, Estimate: 20,000 EUR). It dates back to an auction from Santamaria held in 1961.

The most expensive piece of the entire auction is an extremely fine oktadrachm of Getas, King of the Edonians from 480-460. This coin, which was likely minted in order to render tribute payments to the Persians, features the first use of the term “nomisma.”

To read the complete article, see: Numismatik Lanz, D-Munich (www.coinsweekly.com/en/Preview/6?&id=1186)

Lot 20
GRIECHISCHE MÜNZEN KALABRIEN TARENT AV-Viertelstater, circa 325 - 280. Kamm-Muschel. Rs: Delphin nach rechts schwimmend, darunter Krabbe. Vlasto ('Gold') -; HN Italy -; SNG ANS -; SNG München -; zum Typ vgl. Vlasto 1559. 1,72g. Sehr selten. Sehr schön.

See: www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=553&category=12426&lot=573206

Lot 52
GRIECHISCHE MÜNZEN SIZILIEN Hieron II. (275 - 215) Tetradrachme (16 Litrae), im Namen der Königin Philistis, circa 218/17 - 214. Kopf der Königin Philistis mit Diadem und über den Hinterkopf gezogenem Schleier nach links, hinter dem Kopf brennende Fackel. Rs: BAΣIΛIΣΣAΣ / ΦIΛIΣTIΔOΣ. Nike galoppierende Quadriga nach rechts lenkend, vor den Hinterhufen des Gespanns E. A. Burnett, The Enna Hoard and the Silver Coinage of the Syracusan Democracy, SNR 62 (1983), 48; SNG ANS 884; SNG Tübingen 695; CCO 44 (D11/R26). 13,05g. Vorzüglich.

See: www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=553&category=12426&lot=573238

Lot 1116
AUSLAND GROSSBRITANNIEN George III. (1760-1820) Guinea 1798. Kopf nach rechts. Rs: Bekröntes Wappen, darunter Jahr. Seaby 3729. 8,40g. Stempelglanz.

See: www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=553&category=12434&lot=574302

To view the auction catalog, see: Numismatik Lanz München | Auction 155 | 10 - 11 December 2012 (www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=553)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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