| Classical Numismatic Group > Electronic Auction 555 | Auction date: 7 February 2024 |
| Lot number: 173 Price realized: 400 USD (Approx. 373 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: CYPRUS, Uncertain. 4th century BC. Æ (9mm, 0.98 g, 7h). Forepart of lion standing right, licking foreleg / Two geese standing left, one feeding, the other with head raised. Amandry, Amathonte –; Zapiti & Michaelidou –; Tziambazis Supp. 6 (Amathos). . Very rare. This very rare issue was attributed to Amathos by Tziambazis, but he described the obverse of the sole specimen known to him as a curled lion. However, the obverse type is actually a lion forepart right that is licking its foreleg, which is the same type found on issues of Marion under Sasmas (cf. Zapiti & Michaelidou 1–3). Sasmas, though, ruled circa 470-450 BC, which is too early for such a bronze issue, so the similarity of the type may be coincidental. Estimate: 100 USD |  |
Match 1:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Electronic Auction 555 | Auction date: 7 February 2024 |
| Lot number: 168 Price realized: 3,250 USD (Approx. 3,031 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: CYPRUS, Marion. Uncertain king (Sasmas?). Circa 470-450 BC. AR Twelfth Stater (8.5mm, 0.95 g, 11h). Forepart of lion standing right, licking foreleg / Head of ram left within incuse square. Zapiti & Michaelidou 3; Tziambazis Supp. 15. Lightly toned, a couple of light scratches on obverse. VF. Extremely rare, and exceptional for type; only two in CoinArchives (attributed to Timocharis). Estimate: 300 USD |  |
Match 2:
| Leu Numismatik AG > Web Auction 29 | Auction date: 24 February 2024 |
| Lot number: 991 Price realized: 1,100 CHF (Approx. 1,249 USD / 1,154 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: CYPRUS. Uncertain, 4th century BC. 1/3 Stater (Silver, 14 mm, 3.28 g, 10 h). Laureate head of Zeus to left; before, uncertain inscription. Rev. Facing head of Aphrodite, wearing pendant earrings and elaborate necklace; to left, uncertain inscription. BMC -. Tziambazis -. Zapiti & Michaelidou -. Apparently unpublished and of great interest. Harshly cleaned and with some doubling and a die break on the reverse, otherwise, very fine. From a European collection, formed before 2005. The style, fabric and weight of this enigmatic piece suggest an origin in Cilicia or Cyprus. Its types are somewhat reminiscent of the coinage of Nagidos, where early-4th century staters bear heads of Dionysos in a similar style (SNG Levante 7, Weiser, Kyros, pl. XX, 40). In addition, Cilician obols, mostly from Tarsos and Nagidos, often show similar facing heads of Aphrodite. However, the inscription, although illegible, is clearly not Greek, and the god on the obverse is not Dionysos but Zeus. All of this points to a Cypriot origin, where types from nearby Cilicia were often adapted, and where the local Cypriot syllabary was commonly used on coins. Perhaps the closest parallel comes from the kingdom of Marion in the northwest corner of the island, opposite the mainland, where king Stasiokos II (circa 330-312 BC) issued tetrobols (BMC pl. XX, 14) with a head of Zeus of very similar style on the obverse and a right-facing head of Aphrodite on the reverse. Again, the latter is reminiscent of Nagidian prototypes, and the appearance of the goddess of love and beauty on coins from her sacred island of Cyprus is hardly a surprise. Unfortunately, due to die wear and cleaning, the inscription on our coin is unreadable, and we can only hope that a clearer example will emerge in the future, revealing the name of the king and therefore the mint. Starting price: 100 CHF |  |
Match 3:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > NYINC Signature Sale 3113 | Auction date: 8 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 31033 Price realized: 16,000 USD (Approx. 14,586 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients CYPRUS. Marion. Sasmas (ca. 470-450 BC). AR stater (23mm, 11.12 gm, 4h). NGC Choice XF★ 4/5 - 4/5, edge marks. Sa-sa-ma-o to-ka-ro-to-sa (Cypriot for Sasmas, son of Doxandros), lion standing right, licking its right foreleg; Boeotian shield above, floral pattern in exergue / Ma-ri-eu-se (Cypriot for of Marion), Phrixus, son of Athamas, King of Boeotia, standing left, clinging to the back of a ram standing left; Boeotian shield on ground, all in incuse square. Zapiti & Michaelidou 1. Tziambazis 50. BMC p. 71, 1 = Traité II 1366. SNG Copenhagen 24. ACGC 1108 = E.S.G. Robinson, "British Museum Acquisitions for the Years 1933-1934" in NC 1936, 45; E.S.G. Robinson, "British Museum Acquisitions for 1930-31" in NC 1932, 10. Kunstfreund 168. Triton XVII, lot 356 = Triton XV, lot 1264 (all from the same obv. die). This extremely rare and exquisite specimen boasts dynamic imagery on both facets of the coin, enveloped in deep cabinet toning that enriches its allure. The interplay of dark brown and cerulean blue hues across the surfaces lends a captivating visual charm, making it a truly distinguished piece. The finest certified, with the next closest a Choice VF and no others with a star designation. Ex Roma Numismatics, Auction XIX (26 March 2020), lot 579. Seated majestically on the island's north-western front and presenting an awe-inspiring vista of the Mediterranean, Marion was a focal point of Hellenic culture and influence. Its geographical advantage further-endowed its significance, as it lay at the crossroads of key maritime routes, becoming a hub for trade and cultural exchange. Marion flourished notably in the Archaic and Classical periods, its prosperity reflecting the city's position as a vital trading center, dealing in timber, copper, precious metals, and other commodities to the Aegean world and beyond. Marion's coinage was also significant, bearing the typology of animals such as lions, stags, rams, and bulls. Despite its turbulent history, particularly its ultimate destruction by Ptolemaic Egypt in the late 4th century BC, and subsequent re-founding as Arsinoe, Marion's intrinsic legacy remains. Archaeological findings, including temple remains, funerary monuments, and inscriptions, offer profound insights into its distinct socio-political dynamics and cultural narratives, breathing life into the city's ancient stones. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-cyprus-marion-sasmas-ca-470-450-bc-ar-stater-23mm-1112-gm-4h-ngc-choice-xfand-9733-4-/a/3113-31033.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3113-01082024 HID02906262019 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Estimate: 8000-12000 USD |  |
Match 4:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVII | Auction date: 9 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 90 Price realized: 1,900 USD (Approx. 1,740 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: SICILY, Entella. Punic issues. Circa 345/38-320/15 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 16.95 g, 7h). Head of Arethousa right, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; poppy behind neck, two dolphins to right / Horse stepping right; palm tree in background. Jenkins, Punic, Series 2b, 101 (O35/R92); CNP 203b; HGC 2, 275; Bement 595 (same dies); de Luynes 1437 (same dies). Lightly toned, patch of find patina along edge. Good VF. The Siculo-Punic coinage in Sicily, which included the minting of Attic weight standard tetradrachms and didrachms within Sicily by Carthage, is linked primarily to five cities: Motya, Panormos, Lilybaion, Entella, Solous, and Thermai Himerenses. Entella has been identified as the site of the main Punic controlled mint on the island, but that is disputed and it is often referred to as "uncertain." Thermai Himerenses and Solous were minor mints that issued only a few tetradrachms along with silver fractional and bronze issues. Motya, once the leading Punic city and mint in the area, ceased production after its destruction in 397 BC. This left Entella, Panormos, and Lilybaion as the major remaining mints, with Entella issuing the majority of the subsequent Punic coinage. This coinage is directly tied to Carthage's attempts to subjugate the eastern Greek half of the island. The first Sicilian War saw Carthage crushed at the Battle of Himera in 480 BC, and for seventy years after Carthage declined to interfere in Greek Sicilian politics even when called upon. However, this stance changed with her intervention on behalf of Segesta against Selinos and Himera in the Second Sicilian War. Notably, before Punic intervention, Carthage did not mint any coins at all. Instead, Punic trade across the Mediterranean was conducted in kind rather than with currency. However, Carthage needed to hire mercenaries to bolster her armies in her quest to conquer Sicily and this required currency that the mercenaries would trust. While the earliest Siculo-Punic tetradrachms had a distinctly Punic style that did not match with current issues circulating on the island. Subsequent Carthaginian emissions, however, copied local imagery and style, producing tetradrachms and didrachms that denizens of the island were familiar with. This allowed them to easily integrate into circulation alongside the Greek issues in Sicily. This syncretism, which Carthage practiced in other areas, produced a body of coinage that is fascinating not only due to its beauty, but also because of the amalgamation of styles and cultures. This model would be adopted for almost all of the Punic coinage minted in Sicily. The coins were identified as inherently Punic by alterations in style or use of a Punic legend or symbol such as the horse. However, the core concepts of the coins were borrowed from Syracuse, Akragas, Himera, and other Greek cities in Sicily. Even in Carthage's last issue of Herakles head tetradrachms, we see the use of prototypes from Alexander's different mints in the East. This amalgamation of cultures is what makes the series interesting to collect outside of its beauty and history: the ability to buy one coin that has elements from three or even four cultures is difficult to beat and is attractive to collectors of almost any area. In this auction we are proud to offer an impressive section of Siculo-Punic coins that includes coins from most of the major mints as well as a few impressive rarities that rarely appear at auction. Estimate: 2000 USD |  |
Match 5:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVII | Auction date: 9 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 8 Price realized: 3,000 USD (Approx. 2,748 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: CALABRIA, Tarentum. temp. Pyrrhos of Epeiros. Circa 276-272 BC. AV Quarter Stater – Triobol (11mm, 2.15 g, 4h). Head of Apollo right, wearing laurel wreath; NK monogram to left / Eagle standing right, wings spread, on thunderbolt; TAPAN[TINΩN] up left field; to right, [ΦI(?) above two stars] above two amphorai; NIKAP in exergue. Fischer-Bossert G58c (V49/R58 – this coin); Vlasto 57 (same dies); HN Italy 986; SNG Copenhagen 837 (same dies); Berlin 28 (same dies). Minor marks, double struck on reverse. VF. Ex Gorny & Mosch 207 (15 October 2012), lot 15; Hess-Leu [22] (4 April 1963), lot 14; Leu FPL [1] (ND [1960]), no. 4. This gold issue from Tarentum was struck during the time of Pyrrhos of Epeiros's campaigns in Italy. In the early 3rd Century BC, the Tarentines were at war with the Romans. To defeat their superior enemies, they decided that they needed the help of a powerful ally (Pausanias 1.12.1). So they sought the help of Pyrrhos, who crossed the Adriatic Sea in 280 BC. According to Pausanias, his reasons for joining the war were threefold. For one, the Tarentines had assisted him in his war with Korkyra, sending their fleet to augment Pyrrhos' forces. Secondly, Pyrrhos was enticed by the assertion of the Tarentine envoys that the land of Italy was prosperous and bountiful. The final, and perhaps most important, reason was that Pyrrhos "remembered the capture of Troy, which he took to be an omen of his success in the war, as he was a descendant of Achilles making war upon a colony of Trojans" (Pausanias 1.12.1). Plutarch relates a wonderful anecdote that as Pyrrhos was deciding whether or not to help the Tarentines, he was counseled by his advisor Kineas (Plutarch, Pyrrhus, 14.2-7). Kineas asked his ruler what they should do if they succeed in conquering the Romans, and Pyrrhos replied that they would then conquer all of Italy. When asked by Kineas, "What then?", Pyrrhos replied that he would then move on to capture Sicily. The conversation proceeded in this way, until Pyrrhos said that they would eventually conquer the entire world. Kineas then asked what they should do once all of their foes were vanquished, to which Pyrrhos said, "We shall be much at ease, and we'll drink bumpers, my good man, every day, and we'll gladden one another's hearts with confidential talks" (14.6). Finally Kineas's point became clear when he said, "Then what stands in our way now if we want to drink bumpers and while away the time with one another? Surely this privilege is ours already, and we have at hand, without taking any trouble, those things to which we hope to attain by bloodshed and great toils and perils, after doing much harm to others and suffering much ourselves" (14.7). Though this logic made him uneasy, Pyrrhos continued with his expedition to Italy. Though Pyrrhos was successful in his battles against Rome, the losses he sustained diminished his forces to the extent that he could not capitalize on his victories, so he was eventually forced to retreat back to Greece. This situation of tactical victory at a crippling cost is to what the expression "Pyrrhic victory" refers. Appropriately, after his victory over Rome at the battle of Asculum in 279 BC, Pyrrhos remarked, "If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined" (Plutarch, Pyrrhus, 21.9). Estimate: 2000 USD |  |
