CNG 109, Lot: 39. Estimate $2500. Sold for $3250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BRUTTIUM, Kroton. Circa 530-500 BC. AR Nomos (27mm, 7.78 g, 12h). Spread incuse type. Tripod, legs surmounted by wreaths and terminating in lion's feet, two serpents rising from the bowl and between feet; retrograde (koppa)PO to left, crab to right / Incuse tripod as obverse, but wreaths and serpents in relief, no serpents between legs; crab to left, retrograde (koppa)PO to right. Gorini –; Attianese 22; HN Italy 2078; SNG ANS 244–7 var. (position of ethnic and crab on rev.); SNG Lloyd 593 var. (same); SNG Lewis 247; McClean 1647 (same dies). VF, toned, slight doubling on reverse. Rare variety.

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Triton XVII (6 January 2014), lot 27; Numismatica Ars Classica 54 (24 March 2010), lot 25.

From the consignor: This is a second interesting example of the incuse Kroton coinage. Note the misalignment of the two dies here. US Chief Engraver John Mercanti speculated that the incuse coinage dies were aligned by simply placing marks on the dies which were hand aligned prior to striking (The US mint still does this to test new die designs). If this was done here, the celator truly “missed his marks.” This is a rarer variety, perhaps because of early die failure due to continued misalignment?