Sale: Nomos 8, Lot: 152. Estimate CHF7500.  Closing Date: Monday, 21 October 2013.  Sold For CHF20000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ATTICA, Athens. Circa 467-465 BC. Drachm (Silver, 13mm, 4.28 g 12). Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet adorned with three olive leaves over the visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl. Rev. ΑΘΕ Owl standing to right, head facing; behind, olive spray; all within incuse square. Seltman pl. XXII, φφ (this coin, but only the reverse is illustrated) = Starr 83 (this coin) = Svoronos pl. 9, 24 (this coin). Rare. Toned and of lovely style. Nearly extremely fine.

From the B. in B. Collection, ex Bank Leu 30, 28 April 1982, 120, from an American collection, ex Münzen und Medaillen 41, 18 June 1970, 104 (but with the wrong references and date), from the collection of E. G. Spencer Churchill, Ars Classica XIV, 2 July 1929, 263 and from the Baltatzi collection.

The drachms struck by Athens during the second quarter of the 5th century, those studied by C. Starr, are undoubtedly the best struck and most attractive of all Athenian drachms. This coin is certainly no exception; thus it is understandable that it was in the collection of such a great connoisseur as Captain Spencer Churchill.