Sale: Nomos 9, Lot: 155. Estimate CHF450.  Closing Date: Monday, 20 October 2014.  Sold For CHF725. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

IONIA, Phokaia. c. 521-478 BC. Triobol (Silver, 9mm, 1.56 g). Head of a griffin to left, with pointed ears and open jaws. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square with irrregular surfaces. SNG von Aulock 2116 ff. A bold, attractive and well-centered example, nicely toned. About extremely fine.

From the RRG collection, acquired prior to 1978.

This series of griffin-head silver is slightly controversial because they vary considerably in weight, ranging from putative diobols to triobols in size. In fact, they probably are triobols since it is conceivable that some could have been underweight, but it is inconceivable that diobols would be struck so heavy.