Sale: Nomos 3 & 4, Lot: 111. Estimate CHF20000.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 May 2011.  Sold For CHF24000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MYSIA, Lampsakos. Circa 200-150 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 16.73 g 12), Demetriou, tou Demetriou tou Meikalou, c. 160. Bearded head of Priapos to right, wearing ivy wreath and with his hair falling in locks to his shoulders. Rev. ΛΑΜΨΑ - ΚΗΝΩΝ // ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΜΕΙΚΑΛΟΥ Apollo Kitharoidos standing right, wearing long robes and hold a lyre in his left hand and with his right at his side; below left, monogram; below right, bow and arrow. Baldwin, Lampsakos Pl. VIII, 1. Gaebler, 70 and pl. II, 42. SNG France 1229 (but misread). Very rare. Lightly toned. Extremely fine.

From the Spina collection, ex Lanz 102, 28 May 2001, 257, Bank Leu 33, 3 May 1983, 363 and Monnaies et Médailles 47, 30 November 1972, 493.

The general dates given for this series are c. 190-85 BC: this seems far too long a time span. A date of around 160 seems more likely, though it is certainly possible that it could be later, given the prominent broken-bar alphas in the reverse legend. The elaborate patronymic, Demetrios, son of Demetrios, son of Meikalos, also argues for a late date. The head of Priapos, a god much loved at Lampsakos, has the features of Dionysos.