Sale: Nomos 9, Lot: 69. Estimate CHF15000.  Closing Date: Monday, 20 October 2014.  Bidding Closed.

THRACO-MACEDONIAN TRIBES, Ichnai. c. 485-470 BC. Oktadrachm (Silver, 30mm, 28.64 g). ΙΧΝΑΙΟΝ (retrograde) Local hero walking to right, wearing kausia, leading two bulls moving slowly to right. Rev. Wheel with four spokes within shallow incuse square. Asyut -. HPM Pl. IV, 5 var. = Jameson 946. Very rare. A bold and attractive piece. Obverse very lightly double struck and with some light flatness, reverse with some scuffs and scrapes, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

Ex Nomos 6, 8 May 2012, 37.

The tribal silver issues of the Thraco-Macedonian area were primarily produced as a way of exploiting the rich seams of precious metal found in that area; and was especially true for the heavy oktadrachms, which were a denomination ill-suited for any kind of local use. This piece shows a local hero leading two bulls, a scene that was quite popular in northern Greece and probably refers to a then well known local myth. In keeping with its rural themes, the wheel on the reverse is not that of a speedy chariot, but of a heavy cart, perhaps one of those that carried silver ore from the mines!