| Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVII | Auction date: 9 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 25 Price realized: 13,000 USD (Approx. 11,907 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: BRUTTIUM, Kaulonia. Circa 525-500 BC. AR Nomos (30.5mm, 7.93 g, 12h). Apollo advancing right, holding branch aloft in right hand, left arm extended, upon which a small daimon, holding branch in each hand, runs right; KAVΛ to left; to right, stag standing right, head reverted; dot-and-cable border / Incuse of obverse, but daimon in outline and no ethnic; radiate border. Noe, Caulonia, Group A, 10 (same dies); Gorini 3; HN Italy 2035; SNG ANS 146 (same dies); Boston MFA 172 = Warren 138 (same dies); Jameson 408 (same dies). Attractive old collection tone. Choice EF. A splendid example of archaic Greek artistry. Ex Father & Son Collection; Classical Numismatic Review XLV.1 (Winter 2020), no. 526710; Künker 326 (7 October 2019), lot 560; Tony Hardy Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 69, 8 June 2005), lot 58. Kaulonia was founded in the 7th century BC by Achaean Greeks. The location, on the underside of Italy's "toe," has long since disappeared beneath the waves, but marine archaeologists have located more than 100 fluted columns, likely for a large shrine to Apollo, the deity depicted on the city's beautiful coinage. On this exceptional piece, Apollo's nude body is shown striding right, with a small winged daimon on his left arm; to his right stands a stag, sacred to both Apollo and his sister Artemis. The unusual fabric of this piece follows a style peculiar to Greek southern Italy in the archaic period: a broad, thin flan, obverse depicted in relief, the reverse repeating the obverse motif but incuse, and reversed. The reasons for the popularity of this fabric are poorly understood; some scholars have postulated a connection to the mathematician-philosopher Pythagoras, who was active in Italy during this period. Estimate: 15000 USD |  |
