Sale: CNG 63, Lot: 243. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 21 May 2003.  Sold For $1900. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THRACE, Ainos. Circa 357-341 BC. AR Drachm (3.44 gm). Head of Hermes facing slightly right, wearing flat petasos / Cult statue of Hermes Perpheraios on throne; kantharos left. May, Ainos, Group LXV, 436 var. (dies not listed); BMC Thrace pg. 80, 23; Pozzi 1040. Toned EF, light roughness on the reverse, very high relief. ($1000)

Lorber, in Amphipolis (pg.73-74), uses several recent hoard finds to downdate the last silver drachms of Ainos to circa 336-331 BC. They are the last of the remarkable facing head coins of Ainos. This example has the highest relief one is likely to encounter on a Greek coin.