DAVISSONS AUCTION 44 GREEK SELECTIONS

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V28 2025 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 28, Number 9, , Article 20

Here are some selected lots in the Greek section of the upcoming Davisson's sale. -Editor

Lot 1: NORTH AFRICA. Carthage. Circa 310-270 B.C. EL stater. 7.46 gm. 19 mm. Carthage mint. Head of Tanit to left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring and necklace / Horse standing right; pellets below and on exergual line. Jenkins & Lewis Group VI, 325 (same obverse die). MAA 13. Good Very Fine; well centered; good style, well struck; luster traces with attractive red-gold tone; tiny hairline flan crack at 3; light marks. Attractive example of this appealing often problematic type.

Lot 2: HUNNIC TRIBES. Kidarite Huns. Kidara. A.D. circa 350-385. AV dinar. 7.63 gm. 33 mm. Balkh. Kidara standing facing, head left, wearing crenellated crown with globe on top between two broad horizontally-pleated ribbons, sacrificing over lighted altar and holding trident; trident above small altar to left; tamgha above rosette to right; 'BAGO KI?APA OOZOPKO KOÞANO ÞAYO ('His Majesty, Kidara, Great King of the Kushan') in Bactrian around / The illustrous God Siva (Shiva) standing facing with flaming hair, holding diadem and trident; behind, the bull Nandi (his companion) standing left. ANS Kushan -. Cribb, Kidarites, p. 140, 15. Good Extremely Fine; beautifully centered with a bold, unusually sharply struck obverse, on a large flan; typically blundered reverse. Lovely red-gold tone. A spectacular example.

Lot 22: ETRURIA. Uncertain inland mint Third Century B.C. Variously attributed to the Chiana Valley, circa 208-207 B.C. Æ. 4.85 gm. 18 mm. Head of black African right, wearing earring / Elephant standing right, bell hanging from neck; Etruscan C below. Vicari 235. Baglione 1b. HN Italy 69. Extremely Rare. Good Very Fine; attractive red-brown patina; well centered and sharply struck; good style. Exceptional for this rare type, and possibly the finest known for this series.

This interesting enigmatic issue has inspired much scholarship and speculation surrounding Hannibal's invasion, the possible seditious Etruscan hope that Hasdrubel would arrive from Spain to reinforce his brother against Rome, and the dramatic circumstances surrounding the Second Punic War.

Lot 28: LUCANIA. Thourioi. Circa 280-213 B.C. AR nomos. 6.37 gm. 20.5 mm. Reduced standard. Laureate head of Apollo right / Bull butting right; A?I above, T????-O? and tripod in exergue. HN Italy 1897. SNG ANS 1107. Near Extremely Fine; bright lustrous tone. Fine style, with a particularly attractive head of Apollo, and a marvelous sculptural perfectly centered bull; sharply struck, and unusually nice. A lovely example. Rare issue.

Lot 29: LUCANIA. Velia. Circa 334-300 B.C. AR nomos. 7.54 gm. 21 mm. Kleudoros group. Head of Athena right, wearing Attic helmet, the bowl decorated with a griffin, and a small swan's head above tip of visor / Lion standing left; F above, monogram below between legs, YE???O? in exergue. Williams Period VI, 297 (O165/R228). HN Italy 1289. SNG Ashmolean 1233, SNG Copenhagen 1553, BMC 60, Dewing 460 (all from the same dies). Near Extremely Fine; lovely old tone with underlying iridescence. Fine style, with a beautiful portrait paired with a magnificent lion. Well centered, portrait perfectly placed on the flan, with a full crest on the helmet / a complete lion, well centered on the reverse. All sharply struck. Choice coin.

Lot 36: SICILY. Syracuse. Hieron I. 478-466 B.C. AR tetradrachm. 16.91 gm. 23 x 26 mm. Struck circa 475-470 B.C. Charioteer driving slow quadriga right, kentron in right hand, reins in left; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses / Diademed head of Arethusa right, wearing beaded taenia, pendant earring, and pearl necklace, hair looped up under band, four dolphins swimming clockwise around. Boehringer Series XIId, 344 (V169/R242). HGC 2, 1307. SNG ANS 107. Near Extremely Fine; fine style; attractive old collection tone with lovely red-gold iridescence highlighting the designs, particularly around the head of Arethusa. Well centered and sharply struck on a broad flan. Arethusa of particularly fine late Archaic style, though seemingly prefiguring the later finest Classical style to come, with her features simultaneously both severe and serene. The design and execution of the entire coin is most attractive.

These Syracuse tetradrachms are among the most beautiful and significant of ancient Greek coins. This example is of particularly fine style and condition. If you only ever buy one ancient Greek coin, this would be one good choice.

Lot 64: CARTHAGE. Second Punic War. Circa 220-205 B.C. AR quarter shekel. 1.88 gm. 15 mm. Carthage mint. Head of Tanit left wearing wreath of grain ears, single-pendant earring, and necklace / Horse standing right. CNP 27. MAA 78. SNG Copenhagen 335. Near Extremely Fine; lovely iridescent tone; notably scarce fine style; well centered and struck. Beautiful example of the type.