(Vendue pour $650000.0)
The Prospero Collection of Ancient Greek Coins. BLACK SEA REGION. Pantikapaion (c.350-300 B.C.), Gold Stater, 9.12g,. Head of bearded satyr facing, inclined slightly to the left, with long dishevelled hair and pointed horse’s ear. Rev. Π-A-N , winged griffin standing to left, with its horned head facing, its right forepaw raised, holding a spear in its jaws, a large grain-ear below on which the griffin stands (Locker Lampson 122 (ex Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich collection) = Gulbenkian 583 (these dies); Gulbenkian 584 (this obverse die), 580 (this reverse die); K. Regling, ‘Der Griechische Goldschatz von Prinkipo’, ZfN XLI, 1931, 165 (this obverse die); BM Principal Coins III. B, 1, pl. 21, 1; Jameson 2143). One small area of softness at top of the head, otherwise well-struck and extremely fine, fantastic style, one of the greatest and most admired of all ancient Greek coins, a true masterpiece and incredibly rare, a coin of the highest importance. Purchased from Bank Leu Ltd., Zurich, 1991 The facing head Pantikapaion gold stater, among the most spectacular numismatic objects to survive from the classical world, is one of the greatest pinnacles of ancient Greek numismatic art. The opportunity to acquire an example is seldom encountered by numismatists. Godfrey Locker Lampson, whose example was struck from the same dies as this coin, provides us with his own inspired account of the obverse: “The head of the satyr is a marvel of speaking portraiture. That so much expression could be packed into so small a round would not be believed by any one who had not seen it....If a single coin had to be selected from those described in these pages, as by the greatest of all die-engravers, whoever he may have been, whose work had lasted to the present day, the writer would choose this one. Its creator has left no name behind him, but none but a consummate artist of remarkable and original genius could have produced this unforgettable and amazing little gem.” (Locker Lampson Collection (foreword, p. vii)). The example from the Locker Lampson Collection is now in the Gulbenkian Collection, where it resides together with two other similar examples, one of which shares the same obverse die. The Greek colony of Pantikapaion was founded in the seventh century B.C. by the Milesians and, by the fourth century, the city had amassed considerable wealth through its exports of grain. The griffin on the reverse of this coin is seen standing upon a grain-ear, symbolic of its importance to the financial well-being of the city. The issue of gold staters, this three-quarter facing head example being one of the most important, was a manifestation of the wealth of Pantikapaion. US$ 650,000
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1697, Netherlands, Zeeland Province. Large Silver Knight Ducat Coin. Damaged! Mint Year: 1785 Denomination: Silver Knight Ducat Province: Zeeland (mint mark: castle) Reference: Davenport 49 ...
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