Sale: CNG 67, Lot: 1108. Estimate $3000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 22 September 2004.  Sold For $2600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

IONIA, Smyrna. Antinoüs, favorite of Hadrian. Died 130 AD. Æ 39mm (51.86 gm). Polemon, magistrate. Bare head of Antinoüs left / Bull standing right. Blum pg. 40, 8; BMC Ionia pg. 278, 339 (same dies); cf. SNG Copenhagen 1367/1366 (obverse/reverse). Fine, green patina, graffiti on reverse. ($3000)

Ex Gil Steinberg Collection (Numismatica Ars Classica, 16 November 1994), lot 836.

The graffiti appears to be two lances scratched into the haunch of the bull, perhaps the work of a bored picador?