Sale: Nomos 7, Lot: 26. Estimate CHF2000.  Closing Date: Tuesday, 14 May 2013.  Sold For CHF1600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ISLANDS off THRACE, Thasos. Circa 435-411 BC. Drachm (Silver, 3.54 g). Nude Satyr kneeling facing, his head turned to right, preparing to lift a nymph whom he holds in his arms and who is protesting with her right hand. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. Le Rider, Thasiennes 8. SNG Copenhagen 1018 . An attractive lightly toned coin. Extremely fine.

From the Spina Collection, ex Triton VI, 14 January 2003, 221.

This coin is artistically very interesting because the die cutter seems to have been very ambitious. Instead of just running to the right in archaic fashion, as he does on the staters throughout the 5th century, this satyr is clearly kneeling, preparing to push himself up with his bent right leg so that he can lift the well-dressed nymph he holds in his arms and carry her off. Thus, a dramatic moment of time has been very well captured on this coin: it very possibly was copied from contemporary painting.