Sale: Nomos 6, Lot: 65. Estimate CHF750.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 May 2012.  Sold For CHF750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PHOKIS, Federal Coinage. Nikaia (?). Circa 420-400. Obol (Silver, 1.06 g 12). ΦΟ Bull’s head facing. Rev. Forepart of boar to right showing both forelegs; around, remains of incuse square. BCD (Numismatica Ars Classica 55, 2010) 453 (same dies). Williams 277-280 var. An attractive piece, very nicely toned. Minor obverse die break, otherwise, extremely fine.

From a European collection.

This piece, which must come from an old collection given its clearly genuine old toning, comes from a small group of Phokian obols that have been, with some degree of confidence, attributed to the port of Nikaia. This small city was located near Thermopylae (whence the name) and was occupied by the Phokians during the late 5th century.