ARKADIA, Pheneos. Circa 360-350/40 BC. AR Stater (24mm, 11.16 g, 7h). Near VF.

Triton XXVI
Lot: 173. Estimated: $ 7 500

Greek, Silver

Sold For $ 15 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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ARKADIA, Pheneos. Circa 360-350/40 BC. AR Stater (24mm, 11.16 g, 7h). Head of Demeter to right, wearing grain ear wreath, elaborate disc and crescent earring with pendants, and pearl necklace / Hermes, nude but for his petasos and a cloak over his shoulders, holding kerykeion in right hand, partially facing and advancing left, his head turned right to gaze at the infant Arkas, whom he holds on his left arm with his left hand, and who raises his right hand towards Hermes’ face; ΦΕ-ΝΕ-ΩΝ around below. Schultz 6.13 (V3/R5 – this coin); Traeger, Arkadien 515; BCD Peloponnesos 1622; HGC 5, 976; SNG Berry 867; SNG Fitzwilliam 3897; SNG Lockett 2525; BMC 13; Gillet 1001 = Regling, Antike 664; Kraay & Hirmer 515; Locker Lampson 241 = Weber 4322 (all from the same dies). Deep old cabinet tone, marks and scratches. Near VF. Artistic and rare.

From the Pythagoras Collection. Ex Naville V (18 June 1923), lot 2260.

The stater coinage of Pheneos was very small: it was struck from only three obverse and seven reverse dies. This means the actual output was probably fairly limited, especially since the first obverse die almost immediately broke and was destroyed. These coins were surely designed to pay mercenaries: the years around 360 BC were dangerous ones in Greece and there was a considerable amount of fighting going on. The fact that such beautiful coins were made for such a reason may seem surprising, after all soldiers could be paid just in bullion, but it once again shows that civic pride was a major factor in the way coins were conceived and designed. Here the head of Demeter is remarkably elegant, especially given how beautifully struck and sharp it is; as for Hermes and the infant Arkas on the reverse, one immediately thinks of the Hermes of Praxiteles, which was made circa 343 in nearby Olympia.

The final winners of all Triton XXVI lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 10-11 January 2023.

Triton XXVI – Session One – Lots 1-334 will be held Tuesday morning, 10 January 2023 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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