Watch List notes:

Thrace. Ainos. AR Tetradrachm, ca. 374/3-372/1 BC. 15.63 gms. Head of the city’s patron god Hermes facing ¾ left, wearing petasos with studded rim, rev. AINION, Goat standing right, wreath before, all within shallow incuse square. May, Ainos Group LVI (dies not recorded), AMNG II 328, Dewing 1273. In one of his works, the ancient Cyrene poet Kallimachos writes that the sculptor Epeios who built the Trojan Horse also made a wood statue of Hermes. But “the swollen Scamander” swept it away to sea. It was found by fishermen on the Hebros River. Believing it naught but driftwood, they tried to burn it on their warming fire. When it refused to burn, they threw it back into the waters. But the sea promptly cast it back. The fishermen accepted it as a relic of the gods and built the cultus sanctuary of Hermes Perpheraios (the Wanderer) at the future site of Ainos. Attractive silvery-birch brown patina. Haunting depiction of Hermes of fine style. Near Extremely Fine.
Ex CNG Sale 66, May 19, 2004, lot 321
Estimate: - $4,000.00