★ Extremely rare dichalkon depicting the celery wreath prize from the Nemean Games ★

ARGOLIS. Kleonai. Circa 320 BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 15,5 mm, 3.62 g, 4 h). Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. K - Λ Club with handle upwards; all within wreath of wild celery. BCD Peloponnesos 1321-2. BMC 8. Trait III 673, pl. CCXVII, 8. Extremely rare. Green patina. Nearly very fine.

BCD noted on this type in the BCD catalogue: "the only bronze of Kleonai to occasionally be found in trade is the smaller denomination coin, the chalkous. I always searched for these, attracted by their unusual representation of a wild celery wreath, the well-known victor's prize at the Nemean Games. The larger dichalkoi are so rare that I do not recall any offered in the market, except for the two that are listed in this catalogue. None were found at the Nemea excavations, as against 31 of the smaller ones.".