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THRACE, Ainos. Circa 403/2-402/1 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 16.69 g, 6h). Persic standard. Head of Hermes right, wearing petasos with pelleted rim / Goat standing right; grain ear on long stalk to right; AINION above; all within incuse square. Unpublished issue, but struck from May, Ainos, obverse die A151, with a reverse symbol used for May’s Group 39; cf. HGC 3, 1269. Toned, a few small test cuts on edge. Near EF. Apparently unique.
From the Wild Rose Collection, purchased from Gorny & Mosch, 16 January 2020. Ex Roma XVII (28 March 2019), lot 406.
The appearance of this issue requires a revision to the relative chronology of May’s Period II. Tetradrachms of this period were struck on the Persic standard, and feature the profile head of Hermes on the obverse. This coin was struck with an obverse die from May’s Period II, Group 29, but the reverse suggests that this issue was struck much later. Significantly, the reverse here uses the full ethnic AINION, rather than the usual AIN or AINI that appears on all the other Period II tetradrachms. The full ethnic is canonical for the succeeding period III tetradrachms, which were struck on the Chian standard and feature a facing head of Hermes. Moreover, the symbol here, a grain ear on a long stalk, is the symbol that appears on the first tetradrachms of May’s Period III (Group 39). As such, this coin must be from an unpublished final group of May’s Period II, and by virtue of the obverse die link, May’s Group 29 should immediately precede this issue.
The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 126 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 28-29 May 2024. This lot is in Session One, which will begin 28 May at 9 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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