Numismatica Ars Classica Zurich

Auction 126  –  17 November 2021

Numismatica Ars Classica Zurich, Auction 126

A Collection of Greek Coins of a Man in Love with Art, Part IV

We, 17.11.2021, from 3:00 PM CET
The auction is closed.

Description

Naxos
Didrachm circa 415-403, AR 7.41 g. NA[ΞIΩN] Laureate head of Apollo r.; behind, laurel leaf with berry. Rev. Naked Silenus squatting, holding cantharus in uplifted r. hand and thyrsus in l.; in l. field, tendril and ivy-leaves; to r., herm. Jameson 681 (these dies). SNG Lockett 844 (these dies). SNG ANS 526 (these dies). Campana CNAI, 20. Cahn, Naxos 110.8 (this coin and this reverse die illustrated).
Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, possibly the finest specimen in
private hands. Struck in high relief and with a magnificent old cabinet tone.
Obverse slightly off-centre, otherwise extremely fine

Ex Cahn 84, 1933, 138; Ars Classica XVII, 1934, Burrage-Evans, 177; Münzhandlung Basel 8, 1937, 134 and Beaussant Lefèvre 2, 2011, 15 sales.
Founded in 735 BC, Naxos was the oldest of the Greek colonies of Sicily. It was presumably named after the homonymous Cycladic island although the settlers are reported to have come primarily from Chalcis on Euboea. Unfortunately, as Ionian Greeks, the Naxians often came into conflict with the Dorian Greek colonists of Gela and Syracuse in the early fifth century BC. In 493 BC, the city was conquered by Hippocrates, the tyrant of neighbouring Gela, and later Naxos fell to the Syracusian tyrant Hieron I, who attempted to break up potential opposition to his rule by depopulating the cities in his power. Thus, in 467 BC, Hieron I forced both the Naxians and the Catanians to leave their cities and move to Leontini while he gave their old homes over to Dorian settlers. The Naxians, however, returned to their city after the death of the Syracusan tyrant. The present drachm was struck in the happy days after the fall of the Deinomenid tyranny at Syracuse made it possible for the Naxians to live in their city largely unmolested and before the disastrous Peloponnesian War in mainland Greece spilled over into Sicily. The archaic types depicting Dionysus allude to the Cycladic namesake of the city. According to Greek myth, after slaying the Minotaur, Theseus escaped with Ariadne to the island of Naxos. However, while she was asleep he decided to carry on home to Athens without her. All seemed lost when Ariadne awoke to realise that she had been abandoned, but the wine-god Dionysus appeared and took her as his wife.

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Bidding

Price realized 85'000 CHF
Starting price 40'000 CHF
Estimate 50'000 CHF
The auction is closed.
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