Sale: Nomos 3 & 4, Lot: 76. Estimate CHF6250.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 May 2011.  Sold For CHF8000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

AKARNANIA, Federal Coinage (Akarnanian Confederacy). Circa 420 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.45 g 3), Stratos. Horned and bearded head of the river god Achelöos to right; below, crescent downwards Rev. F (retrograde) in a shallow incuse square. BCD Akarnania 2 (this coin). Imhoof-Blumer A, p. 145, 1. Traité II, IV p. 15, 7 and pl. CCLXXI, 7. Very rare. Struck from a worn die with some die rust, otherwise, clear and attractive, very fine.

Ex Münzen und Medaillen GmbH, Sammlung BCD, 18 October 2007, 2.

Not only were the early coins of the Akarnanian Confederacy issued in very small numbers, they were also used, apparently constantly, over a long period of time, with most surviving specimens being extremely worn (as BCD Akarnania lot 7). This piece is actually one of the finest known examples!