Exceptional Archaic Siris

Sale: Triton XIII, Lot: 96. Estimate $50000.  Closing Date: Monday, 4 January 2010.  Sold For $60000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THRACO-MACEDONIAN REGION, Siris. Circa 525-480 BC. AR Stater (10.06 g). Ithyphallic satyr standing right, grasping hand of nymph fleeing right; three pellets around / Rough incuse square divided diagonally. Smith Group 5 (Lete); AMNG III/2, 18 (Lete); HPM pl. VII, 27 (same obv. die); SNG ANS 956-61 (”Lete”); Traité I 1566; NAC 48, lot 58 (same obv. die). Choice EF, toned, slight granularity. Rare superior style among this large archaic issue.

The satyr and nymph type was a common motif on numerous archaic coinages from the Thraco-Macedonian region. Some of these issues have legends in the fields, but these are very rare, and often contain poorly rendered epigraphy that only adds to the confusion of attributing the coins to a specific population. This particular coinage is distinguished by the posture of the figures, both standing with the satyr grasping the hand of the nymph, and the presence of pellets in the field, presumably marking the denomination. It was a prolific coinage, with large quantities found in numerous hoards, and the wide variety of styles is also indicative of a huge, long lasting series. Within the series, there are a few issues bearing a legend, CIRINON (usually retrograde). One of the first identified with a legend, albeit crudely inscribed, was incorrectly read by a 19th century scholar as 'Letaion', which led to his attribution of the series to the city of Lete. This unfortunate reading has led to almost all subsequent catalogs attributing this series to Lete, although Svoronos read the inscription, correctly, as 'Sirinon'. A more recent example, with a clear, well-executed inscription, recently appeared on the market (Leu 81, lot 147). This example vindicated Svoronos' reading, and confirmed his attribution.

As noted above, the quality of the engraving in this series varied considerably, with many examples displaying a stylized rendition of the figures, almost in a caricature. This simplified style is what is most often found on pieces present today. However, there are a few rare examples that are a paragon of archaic art, executed in a style that is clearly masterful in presentation. The present piece is one of these. Here the figures are rendered in a careful, delicate style, reminiscent of that present on the finest late black-figure and early red-figure pottery. See Numismatica Ars Classica 48, lot 58, for an example from the same obverse die that sold recently for 55,000 CHF.