Sale: Nomos 7, Lot: 95. Estimate CHF4500.  Closing Date: Tuesday, 14 May 2013.  Sold For CHF6500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ATTICA, Athens. 430s BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 17.59 g 7). Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet adorned with three olive leaves and palmette, round earring and pearl necklace. Rev. ΑΘΕ Owl standing right, head facing; behind, olive spray and crescent moon; all within incuse square. Cf. Dewing 1594 and Svoronos pl. 14, 3 . A splendid coin with a wonderful archaizing head of Athena. Minor flan fault in the reverse field and some minor marks, otherwise, virtually as struck.

This coin has a freshness and beauty that is rarely found with coins from Athens. The obverse is very well centered and bears a lovely head of Athena, very subtly smiling in archaic fashion.