Sale: Nomos 1, Lot: 33. Estimate CHF25000.  Closing Date: Tuesday, 5 May 2009.  Sold For CHF22000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THRACE, Ainos. Circa 412/1-410/09 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 16.50 g 1). Head of Hermes to right, wearing close-fitting petasos with knob at the top and beads along the edge Rev. ΑΙΝΙ Goat standing to right; to right, kerykeion; all within incuse square. AMNG II, 288. BMC 5. May, Ainos, Group XXXI, 259. SNG Copenhagen 395. Nicely toned and centered; with a fine classical head of Hermes. A few minor marks, otherwise, extremely fine.

From the Spina collection.

The heads of Hermes on the coinage of Ainos reflect the tastes of the time they were made. Here we have the head of an elegant youth, aristocratic and, perhaps, rather tough as well. He is reminiscent of the young men who were so often portrayed on Attic Red Figure earlier in the century and of the aristocratic riders on the coins of Tarentum.