LUCANIA. Thourioi. Circa 410-400 BC. Stater (Silver, 21 mm, 7.09 g, 10 h), traditonally thought to have been engraved by the artist Phrygillos: there is the letter Φ on the obverse, and, on the reverse, a fluttering bird (a 'finch' or 'phrygillos' in Greek); both appearing as 'signatures'. Head of Athena to right, wearing an Attic helmet adorned with Skylla moving to right, her left hand raised in the 'aposkopein' ( glancing into the distance ) gesture; in the field to right of Athena's visor, Φ. Rev. ΘΟΥΡΙΩΝ Bull walking to left, his head lowered; below on the ground line, finch alighting to left, his wings aflutter; in the exergue, river fish swimming to left. HGC 1, 1259. HN III 1782. SNG ANS 984. Attractively toned and with types of the finest late 5th century Classical style. Nearly extremely fine.

Property of a Late Collector, and from the collection of the Comtesse de Béhague, Vinchon, 14 April 1984, 13.