From the Kunstfreund and Giesecke Collections

CNG 94, Lot: 66. Estimate $15000. Sold for $37500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BRUTTIUM, Rhegion. Circa 356-351 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 16.99 g, 8h). Facing lion head / Head of Apollo left, wearing laurel wreath; [P]H[ΓINON] to left, EY monogram to right. Herzfelder 117a (D72/R99) = Giesecke pl. 2, 6 (this coin); HN Italy 2502; Basel 230 (same dies); Gulbenkian 148 (same dies); Jameson 2410 (same dies). EF, a few light scuffs. Arguably from the finest style dies produced for Rhegion. Rare.

From the JMG Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 66 (19 May 2004), lot 92; Kunstfreund [Gillet] (Leu & Münzen und Medaillen, 28 May 1974), lot 186 (expertly conserved since); W. Giesecke Collection; J. Hirsch VIII (18 May 1903), lot 860.

In 387 BC, Rhegion was destroyed after its capture by the Syracusan tyrant Dionysios I, but was rebuilt under Dionysios II in 360 BC, and became his residence until 351 BC. This late tetradrachm belongs to the latter period, and although the more lifelike and delicate style reflects a break in continuity with the earlier series, the retention of the principal types demonstrates a desire of the city to remain connected to its illustrious past. Based primarily on stylistic elements, the authors of Basel propose an even later date for this issue, circa 320-300 BC, when the city enjoyed its renewed independence after providing aid to Timoleon. The EY monogram is likely an engraver's signature.