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Triton XXIV

Lot nuber 379

SICILY, Leontini. Circa 420-415 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 17.47 g, 12h).


Triton XXIV
Lot: 379.
 Estimated: $ 30 000

Greek, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 54 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Go to Live

SICILY, Leontini. Circa 420-415 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 17.47 g, 12h). Head of Apollo right, wearing laurel wreath / Head of roaring lion right; LEON-T-IN-O-N and three barley grains around; below, fish right. Boehringer, Münzgeschichte 66 (same dies as illustration); HGC 2, 676 (same dies as illustration); SNG ANS 253 (same rev. die); SNG Lloyd –; McClean 2342 (same dies); Rizzo pl. XXIV, 13 (this coin). Attractive old cabinet tone with golden hues, minor flan flaw on reverse. EF. Struck from artistic dies. Extremely rare and the finest known.

Ex Baron Lorne Thyssen-Bornemisza & Dr. Thomas S. Kaplan Joint Collection (Numismatica Genevensis SA IX, 14 December 2015), lot 11; Numismatica Ars Classica 8 (3 April 1995), lot 137; R.A. von Every Collection (Leu 15, 4 May 1976), lot 82; Münzen und Medaillen AG 28 (19 June 1964), lot 50; Naville XVII (3 October 1934), lot 167.

This tetradrachm, executed by an unknown artist, displays all of the craft of a master engraver. In evidence of his exceptional artistic skill, and as often found with the master celators of Sicily during the Classical period, this engraver’s work can be found at other mints, such as Katane (cf. Boehringer pl. 13, D). Here at Leontini, his rendition of Apollo displays an economy and delicate balance with an attention to youthful perfection that belies the awesome power of the god, while, at the same time, places him within the context of humanity (unlike other examples), suggesting some living model. On the reverse, the bold and vigorous depiction of the lion conveys both the beast’s raw internal power and its external adherence to classical proportion, a balance between the wild and the cultivated that epitomizes the Classical ideal.

The final winners of all Triton XXIV lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 19-20 January 2021. This lot is in Session Two, which begins 19 January 2021 at 2 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 22.50% for all others.

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