The Colin E. Pitchfork Collection of Tarentine Coinage

Sale: CNG 81, Lot: 7. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 20 May 2009.  Sold For $550. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CALABRIA, Tarentum. Circa 500-490 BC. AR Nomos (7.93 g, 8h). Phalanthos riding dolphin right, holding cuttlefish / Hippocamp right; cockle shell below. Fischer-Bossert, group 2, 20 (V9/R15); Vlasto 110 & 124 (same dies); HN Italy 827; Weber 523 (same dies); Niggeler 24 = Jameson 86 (same dies). VF, lightly toned, a few minor die breaks and scratches on obverse. Very rare die combination.

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica P (12 May 2005), lot 1321.

Fischer-Bossert lists 7 examples from this die pairing, not including the present coin, and 154 coins overall for his group 2, from 33 die pairings (10 obverse and 19 reverse).

The Colin E. Pitchfork Collection

Colin Pitchfork is a Numismatic Consultant who lives in Sydney, Australia, and has been a collector of ancient coins for nearly sixty years. He was formerly employed by the New South Wales Department of Technical and Further Education (TAFE NSW) until 1991, holding the position of Head of Chemical & Food Technology for NSW. Colin holds a Master of Arts degree in History from Macquarie University, a Bachelor degree in Chemical Technology from New South Wales University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Archaeology from Sydney University, and a Diploma in Education from the University of Technology, Sydney.

Colin has been actively involved in professional numismatics for over fifty years. He has held the position of president of the Australian Numismatics Society on many occasions since 1967, and recently retired from that position in 2008. He has been the recipient of both of the Society's highest awards, the gold and silver medals, a unique honor. Additionally, Colin has been given other awards, including the Numismatic Association of Australia's Paul Simon award “for outstanding contribution in promoting numismatics within organised numismatic societies in Australia”. He is currently the Vice President of the NAA. In 1988 Colin formed, and continues to run, the Australian Society of Ancient Numismatics (ASAN), a group of around 25 regular members that meets at Noble Numismatics on a monthly basis. His own extensive numismatic library (400 yards in length!) has been a source of reference to various academics and students for several decades.

Colin has authored many articles for various numismatic publications, both within Australia and overseas. From 1968-1992 he produced some 58 coin and banknote auction catalogs for Geoff K. Gray Pty Ltd and Mason Gray Strange Pty Ltd. These catalogs comprised a number of important sales and collections, including the Gilbert Heyde collection which was sold from 1973-1974. Since 1991, he has been Numismatic Consultant to Noble Numismatics, and assisted in the writing and production of over sixty of their auction catalogues.

Colin is currently a member of the Board of the Australian Centre of Ancient Numismatics Studies (ACANS) at Macquarie University, and is the author of The Jon Hosking collection of Ptolemaic Coins, a book the Sydney University published for the Nicholson Museum.

CNG is proud to offer Colin's collection of Tarentine coinage. This diverse collection spans all periods of coinage at Tarentum, and features many rareties, as well as pedigreed and published pieces, particularly from the famous collection formed by M.P. Vlasto. Concurrent to this offering, CNG will run a further 150 coins from Colin's collection in Electronic Auction 211, opening May 13 and closing 3 June, on our website, www.cngcoins.com.

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