| Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 146 | Auction date: 8 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 2071 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction - Bid on this lot  | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Catana. Tetradrachm work of the "Maestro della Foglia" circa 430, AR 29 mm, 17.45 g. Prancing biga driven r. by charioteer, holding kentron and reins; above, Nike flying r. to crown horses. Rev. KATANAION Laureate head of Apollo r.; in l. field, Selinon leaf. Rizzo pl. XII, 11 (these dies). Jameson 541 (these dies). Gulbenkian 185 (these dies). Gillet 392 (these dies). SNG ANS 1256 (these dies). Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, undoubtedly the finest specimen in private hands. A portrait of enchanting beauty, work of a skilled master-engraver, struck on a very broad flan. Lovely light iridescent tone and extremely fine Ex Leu 42, 1987, 92 and Triton XVIII, 2015, 358 sales. This beautiful tetradrachm is the work of the "Maestro della foglia", dubbed thus for his habit of 'signing' his work with a special type of leaf instead of the usual initials or name: on the left side of the reverse of this coin we find an apion leaf next to the neatly designed head of Apollo, wearing a laurel crown in his hair. Apart from guaranteeing the authenticity (sphragis) of the master engraver, the apion leaf motif (an apion crown was also first prize for winners of the games of Nemea in Argolis), is coherent with the image of Apollo as discoverer of the healing effects of plants, a quality which the god shared with Esculapius, according to the great Pythagoras, as Pliny the Elder informs us (Naturalis Historia XXV, 13). On other coins with greater mythological coherence, the Maestro's signature is represented by a laurel leaf. Cf. Plin., Nat. hist. XII 3: "Some species of trees are particularly protected as each of them is dedicated to one divinity such as the Mediterranean oak to Jupiter, the laurel to Apollo, the olive to Minerva, the myrtle to Venus and the poplar to Hercules". Estimate: 75000 CHF |  |
