Remarkable Argolis Stater

CNG 94, Lot: 387. Estimate $40000. Sold for $50200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ARGOLIS, Argos. Circa 370-350 BC. AR Stater (25mm, 11.99 g, 5h). Head of Hera right, wearing polos ornamented with five palmettes and single-pendant earring / Two dolphins, one above the other, swimming in counterclockwise circle; in center, Corinthian helmet right between E M; ARΓEI-ON around. BCD Peloponnesos 1066 (this coin); JGC 5, 656; SNG Copenhagen –; BMC –; Traité III 617 = A. Löbbecke, “Griechische Münzen aus meiner Sammlung IV” in ZfN 17 (1890), p. 6 and pl. I, 8 (same dies). Near EF, attractive old collection toning, slightly granular, minor double strike on reverse. Exceptionally fine style. Extremely rare, the second known, the other in a public collection (Berlin).

From the Clearwater Collection. Ex BCD Collection (LHS 96, 8 May 2006), lot 1066; Leu 7 (9 May 1973), lot 184; Münzen und Medaillen AG X (22 June 1951), lot 282.