Exquisite Tetradrachm by the Maestro della Foglia

Triton XVIII, Lot: 358. Estimate $100000. Sold for $85000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SICILY, Katane. Circa 435-412 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 17.45 g, 8h). Reverse die signed by the "Maestro della foglia". Charioteer, wearing long chiton, holding kentron in left hand and reins in both, driving fast quadriga of horses right; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses with wreath held in both hands / Head of Apollo right, wearing laurel wreath; plane leaf to left (signature), KATANAION to right. Mirone –; HGC 2, 572 (same dies as illustration); SNG ANS 1256 (same dies); SNG Lloyd 898 (same dies); Basel –; Dewing –; Gillet 392 (same dies); Gulbenkian 185 = Jameson 541 (same dies); Hunt –; Pozzi 417 (same dies); Rizzo pl. XII, 11 (same dies); de Sartiges –. EF, lovely even gray cabinet tone with hints of iridescence around the devices. Well centered on a broad flan. Arguably the finest specimen of this very rare issue.

Ex Leu 42 (23 November 1987), lot 92.

The artist who engraved the reverse die was identified as "the Leaf Master" by Rizzo because of his use of leaves (laurel, plane and others) as a form of signature.