Sale: Nomos 2, Lot: 128. Estimate CHF25000.  Closing Date: Monday, 17 May 2010.  Sold For CHF21000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CYPRUS, Salamis. Evagoras I. Circa 411-374 BC. Stater (Silver, 10.93 g 1). E u fa go ro, (in Cypriot syllabic script). Head of bearded Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headress. Rev. Ba si le fo se eu (in combined Cypriot and Greek letters). He-goat with long horns and beard seated right on dotted ground line; above, grain of barley; to right, letter. BMC 55 var, Masson & Amandry, 36, Ba . A superb example, nicely toned, unusually well struck and centered, and of excellent style. Good extremely fine.

Ex Hess-Divo 307, 7 June 2007, 1296 and Monnaies et Médailes, FPL 518 (1989), 18.

A spectacular piece: Cypriot coins are well known for their poor minting technique and they tend to be off struck, lightly struck, or on short flans, and usually they are in poor condition as well. This piece is an amazing exception. It is not only very well preserved but also is in good silver with virtually no traces of corrosion. The head of Herakles is a very noble one, and all the fur of the lion is clearly indicated. The powerful goat on the reverse has been shown with great accuracy as well - resting and at peace.