Sale: Nomos 6, Lot: 80. Estimate CHF500.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 May 2012.  Sold For CHF800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CYCLADES, Keos. Karthaia. Late 3rd-early 2nd century BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 19mm, 6.09 g 9). Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. Κ Α Ρ Forepart of a dog within rays to left; below, bee to left. Papageorgiadou-Banis 99, VIII/Issue 1.93 (same dies). SNG Copenhagen 634 (same dies). An attractive and unusually nice example with a dark, medium brown patina. Good very fine.

From the collection of J. Joy, Münzen und Medaillen DE 21, 24 May 2007, 524, acquired from E. J. Waddell.

The coinage of the Greek islands is usually quite scarce, and this coin is no exception. On the reverse is Sirius, the dog star, who was worshipped on Keos in return for favorable weather. The head of Apollo on the obverse is remarkably finely made, and is rather reminiscent of the heads found on the contemporary staters of the Aetolian League.