ATTICA, Athens. Circa 454-404 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 17.16 g, 11h). EF.

Triton XXVI
Lot: 153. Estimated: $ 1 500

Greek, Silver

Sold For $ 6 500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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ATTICA, Athens. Circa 454-404 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 17.16 g, 11h). Head of Athena right, with frontal eye, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl / Owl standing right, head facing; olive spray and crescent to left, AΘE to right; all within incuse square. Starr pl. XXIII, 1’–3’; Kroll 8; HGC 4, 1597; SNG Copenhagen –; SNG München –; Dewing 1593; Gulbenkian 518. Attractively toned, a couple of minor die breaks on obverse, small area of flat strike on reverse. EF. Well centered. Early post-454 issue.

Ex Sotheby's (5 July 1995), lot 58; Armand Trampitsch Collection (Vinchon, 13 November 1986), lot 173.

The certain elements of the style of this tetradrachm, particularly the palmette on Athena’s helmet and the stance of the owl, suggest that this coin was among the earliest issues in the ubiquitous “frontal eye”/classical tetradrachms of the mid-late 5th century at Athens, as these features more closely resemble those found on the later groups of early-mid 5th century issues analyzed by Chester Starr.

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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