Sale: Nomos 3 & 4, Lot: 81. Estimate CHF30000.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 May 2011.  Sold For CHF30000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LOKRIS, Lokris Opuntii. Circa 356-338 BC. Stater (Silver, 12.25 g 11). Head of Demeter to right, her hair wreathed with wheat leaves, and wearing a rosette-and-crescent earring with five pendants and a simple pearl necklace Rev. ΟΠΟΝΤΙΩΝ Ajax advancing to right, nude but for his helmet, holding a short sword in his right hand and a shield ornamented with a griffin on the inside with his left; between his legs, diagonal spear with its point downwards to left. BCD 70-71 var. BMC 28. A superb piece, finer than any in the BCD catalogue, of beautiful style. Tiny metal flaw on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

From the collections of ACPW and BCD (but not in the NAC sale).

This head of Demeter, with the extremely elaborate rosette and crescent earring, is probably the most impressive of the series and is remarkably attractive. No finer example of this stater coinage can be imagined.