Sale: Nomos 7, Lot: 4. Estimate CHF10000.  Closing Date: Tuesday, 14 May 2013.  Bidding Closed.

LUCANIA, Serdaioi. c. 500-475 BC. Diobol (Silver, 1.24 g 6). ΣΕΡ Head of Dionysos to right, with long pointed beard, torc-like necklace and, possibly, a wreath over his brow. Rev. Bunch of grapes. De Luynes 1139 (same dies). HN III 1718 (”triobol”). Extremely rare, one of three known examples). Lightly toned. Rough surfaces, otherwise, extremely fine.

From the Spina Collection and from the SF collection, Nomos 3, 10 May 2011, 8 and ex Gorny & Mosch 185, 8 March 2010, 7.

The coinage of the Serdaioi is a controversial one, if only for the fact that the site from which the coins come has yet to be found. It has been attributed to Sardinia and to Sicily (as in de Luynes) but it was certainly in Lucania. Given the style of the coin, so reminiscent of the earliest issues of Naxos, it may be that it is marginally earlier than the date given here.