MACEDON. Uncertain mint. Circa 420-390 BC. Hemiobol (Silver, 8 mm, 0.42 g). Head of Hermes to right, wearing petasos; border of dots. Rev. Shallow incuse square divided into four quarters, each diagonally divided into four compartments. Robinson - Clement 319, a. Cf. Traité II, 1 , 1512 and pl. XLVII, 14 ( attributed to Alexander I and lacking the internal divisions on the reverse ). Very rare. Well-struck and with a head of Hermes of remarkably fine style. Nearly extremely fine.
From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions, ex Münzen und Medaillen FPL 581, November/December 1994, 37.
While the reverse might just be a particularly elaborate quadripartite incuse square, it may well be more meaningful than that. Like the famous tridrachms of Delphi, which show the coffered ceiling of the Apollo Temple on their reverses, the reverse of this piece might also represent the ceiling of some important building.
Price realized | 1'800 CHF |
Starting price | 320 CHF |
Estimate | 400 CHF |