Nomos

Obolos Webauction 10  –  30 June 2018

Nomos, Obolos Webauction 10

Celtic, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and early Medieval Coins, multiple lots

Sa, 30.06.2018, from 4:00 PM CEST
The auction is closed.

Description

★ Countermarked in Thessalian Pherae ? ★

ISLANDS OFF ATTICA, Aegina. Circa 500/490-480 BC. Stater (Silver, 20 mm, 12.34 g), "small skew" reverse. Sea turtle, with a line of pellets down the back of its shell; countermarked with the head of a bridled horse to left with ΦΕ, all within a square indent. Rev. Square incuse with small skew pattern. HGC 6, 434. SNG Copenhagen 507. With a very important countermark, possibly from Pherae in Thessaly. Struck on an irregular flan as usual. Countermark: good very fine , otherwise, fine.

The similarities between the early obols of Pherae with the countermark on the present coin tempts us to assign it to the Thessalian city. The "turtles" circulated in Thessaly during the 6th and throughout the 5th century BC, even after Aigina was forced to cease their production. The link between Thessaly and Aegina is also attested by the fact that the Aeginetic Standard was adopted by virtually all of the local mints. A hoard that can be seen in the second room of the Numismatic Museum in Athens was found in 1970 in the village of Myrina in the Karditsa region of Thessaly: it contained 149 Aeginetan staters most of which were countermarked; the hoard has been dated to the late 440s.

From a European collection formed before 2010.

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Bidding

Price realized 360 CHF
Starting price 140 CHF
The auction is closed.
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