Struck under Chares, Athenian Despot

CNG 100, Lot: 1422. Estimate $5000. Sold for $17000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

TROAS, Sigeion. 4th-3rd centuries BC. AR Drachm (16mm, 3.09 g, 12h). Head of Athena facing slightly right, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet, disc earrings, and necklace / Owl standing right, head facing; crescent to left, ΣIΓE to right; all within shallow incuse square. Unpublished, but cf. BMC 1 for a similar tetrobol(?). Good VF, toned, even light porosity. Unique.

Head (HN p. 549) argued that this rare issue of silver was struck while Sigeion was under the control of the Athenian general Chares, circa 355-354 BC.