Sale: Nomos 7, Lot: 107. Estimate CHF12500.  Closing Date: Tuesday, 14 May 2013.  Sold For CHF14500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ELIS, Olympia. 111th Olympiad. 336 BC. Stater (Silver, 12.12 g 12). ϜΑ Head of Hera to right, wearing stephanos inscribed FΑΛΕΙΩΝ, triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace. Rev. Eagle with spread wings standing left on rock, head turned back to right; all within olive wreath. BCD Olympia 159 var. (same obverse die). Seltman, Temple 343 (dies FG/ιχ). Very rare. A coin of splendid style and attractively toned. Good very fine.

Ex Nomos Fixed Price List 3, 2010, 64 and from the BCD Collection, Classical Numismatic Group 81/2, 20 May 2009, 2256.

The dies used for this coin were cut by a master engraver of great skill. Hera’s head is both noble and delicate and the eagle on the reverse is particularly well made. The same artist was responsible for the most beautiful of all the later 4th century drachms of Olympia, Seltman pl. XII, 21 (see the Jameson coin (2105) = BCD 192 = Nomos Winter-Spring 2009, 59).