Sale: Nomos 1, Lot: 66. Estimate CHF500.  Closing Date: Tuesday, 5 May 2009.  Sold For CHF1000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SIKYONIA, Sikyon. Circa 431-400 BC. Hemiobol (Silver, 0.46 g 09). Lion walking to left; below, Σ Rev. Dove flying left; to left, Σ. BCD Peloponnesos -, but see 208 for a similar obverse. BMC 35 var. Extremely rare. Toned and nicely struck. Nearly extremely fine.

From the BCD collection.

This is a particularly rare variety - it seems to be transitional in nature and ought to be placed in the late 5th century. The lack of a wreath around the dove probably should be explained by the smallness of the flan: putting one in would have made the design too busy. The lion is beautifully made: he is walking very warily to the left, as if approaching an enemy, quite unlike the proudly striding chimaeras on later issues.