Sale: Triton IX, Lot: 538. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 January 2006.  Sold For $325. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BOIOTIA, Thebes. Circa 395-338 BC. Fourrée Stater (10.17 g). Arka-, magistrate. Struck circa 368-364 BC. Boiotian shield / Amphora; AR-KA across field; all within incuse concave circle. Cf. Hepworth 14; cf. Head, Boeotia p. 64; cf. BMC p. 81, 117-119. VF, even grey tone, minor porosity on reverse. ($300)

This is another example of the art of an ancient counterfeiter. He was quite successful with the shield design but the style of the amphora betrayed him. Nevertheless a good try and a bronze core that has been covered quite uniformly by a thick layer of silver that has no bronze breaking through; a technological achievement by itself.