| Heritage World Coin Auctions > NYINC Signature Sale 3113 | Auction date: 8 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 30049 Price realized: 1,650 USD (Approx. 1,504 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Ancients IONIA. Phocaea. Ca. 477-388 BC. EL sixth-stater or hecte (11mm, 2.55 gm). NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style. Head of nymph left, wearing pendant earring, hair confined by ampyx and ornate sphendone; small seal downward to right / Irregular quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 94. SNG von Aulock 2130. Executed in high-relief, Fine Style dies, the lovely nymph is carefully centered on a nearly round flan. Light toning adds to the appeal. From the Wetmore Collection of Gold and Electrum. Ex Gemini Auction VI (10 January 2010), lot 194. Tracing their legacy to the vibrant universe of ancient Ionian Greece, the people of Phocaea, an eminent coastal city, have left indelible imprints on both history and folklore. Famed as accomplished sailors and traders, they navigated the Mediterranean and beyond, disseminating their culture, including their numismatic practices. Notably, Phocaean coinage often bore the enchanting imagery of nymphs, which formed an integral part of Greco-Roman mythology. These divine spirits, inhabiting natural elements such as streams, trees, and mountains, are often depicted as ethereal maidens. Their portrayal symbolized the deep symbiosis between elements like water and city life, an idea deeply embedded in the beliefs and lifestyle of the inhabitants of Phocaea. Whether seen frolicking through wooded landscapes on painted pottery or adorning coins as graceful figures, these nymphs personify the natural beauty idolized in ancient society and encapsulate an aesthetic appeal which, even in contemporary times, continues to captivate the observer. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-ionia-phocaea-ca-477-388-bc-el-sixth-stater-or-hecte-11mm-255-gm-ngc-choice-xf-5-5-4-5-fine-styl/a/3113-30049.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3113-01082024 HID02906262019 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Estimate: 2000-3000 USD |  |
