Sale: Nomos 8, Lot: 64. Estimate CHF8500.  Closing Date: Monday, 21 October 2013.  Sold For CHF19000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THRACE, Ainos. Circa 412/1-410/09 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 23mm, 16.54 g 1). Head of Hermes to right, wearing close-fitting petasos with knob at the top and beads along the edge. Rev. ΑΙΝΙ Goat standing to right; to right, kerykeion; all within incuse square. BMFA 779 (same dies). Jameson 1048 = May 258b (this coin). Rare. Attractively toned and well stuck in high relief. Good extremely fine.

From the B. in B. Collection, ex Numismatic Fine Arts XII, 23 March 1983, 37, and from the collections of R. Jameson, and Prince Chakowski, Egger XX, 1 July 1908, 240.

The head of Hermes on this coin is remarkably expressive and emotional showing us a god who seems both powerful and thoughtful. Later classical representations, like those on the following tetradrachm of Ainos and on the coinage of Pheneos (for example), make him more approachable and less severe. The goat on the reverse is also a particularly powerful beast.