Unpublished “Wappenmünzen” Hemiobol

CNG 94, Lot: 346. Estimate $500. Sold for $1300. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ATTICA, Athens. Circa 515-510 BC. AR Hemiobol (6mm, 0.28 g). “Wappenmünzen” series. Owl standing left, head facing / Wheel with four spokes within incuse circle. Seltman –; Svoronos, Monnaies –; SNG Copenhagen –; SNG München –. Near VF, toned, minor porosity. Unpublished, possibly unique.

This interesting and unpublished piece, with types on both sides, probably belongs among the last of the Wappenmünzen coins, if the obverse is showing an owl. Alternatively, the obverse type may also be an eagle standing left, holding a serpent in its beak. While it appears that a serpent is visible on the left side of the type, the poor state of preservation prevents a definitive identification. If it actually is an eagle holding a serpent, then an attribution to Chalkis in Euboia is more likely, and the coin may be related to two other unpublished pieces that appeared recently at auction:

CNG E-287, lot 216

DNW A12, lot 1375