Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3051 8-9 January 2017
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Ancients
CRETE. Gortyna. Ca. 330-270 BC. AR stater (23mm, 11.39 gm, 3h). NGC XF 4/5 - 4/5, overstruck. Europa, nude to the waist, seated facing in tree, raising her veil with right hand, left arm holding eagle with spread wings in her lap; below her, bull's head to left / Bull trotting to right, head turned left. BMC Crete 30. Svoronos p. 168, 84 and pl. XV, 7 (same obverse die). Very rare and enigmatic variety. Overstruck on another coin, displaying a few minor striking defects, still much clearer than usually seen for this type, and attractively toned.
Ex Brünn Collection (property of Dr. Ludek Vostal); acquired from the A. Picek Collection, originally obtained in Italy prior during World War I (see below).
This attractive type depicts the tale of Europa and the bull. Europa, a beautiful Phoenician maiden, was spotted by Zeus while she was picking flowers. Zeus became enamored with her, transformed himself into a tame white bull, and approached her. Enchanted, she caressed the bull and climbed onto his back. Seeing his chance, Zeus ran to the sea and swam, with her on his back, to the island of Crete, where (after the usual round of divine lovemaking), he made her queen. The imagery of Europa naturally features prominently on the coinage of Crete, but there are some puzzling aspects of this coin type. For example, the eagle in Europa's lap, and the tree in which she appears to be sitting, do not feature in the traditional tale.
Besides its intriguing image and rarity, this coin has another great story to tell: During World War I, An Astro-Hungarian soldier named A. Picek saved the life of an Italian banker during the battle of Caporetto in 1917. The grateful Italian gifted the soldier with two bags of old coins, which contained a small group of ancient Cretan silver pieces, including this specimen. This became the seed corn for a large and diverse collection of ancient coins that Mr. Picek finally sold in 1975 to Dr. Ludwig Vostal, who kept the collection intact until just recently.
Estimate: 2200-3000 USD
CRETE. Gortyna. Ca. 330-270 BC. AR stater (23mm, 11.39 gm, 3h). NGC XF 4/5 - 4/5, overstruck. Europa, nude to the waist, seated facing in tree, raising her veil with right hand, left arm holding eagle with spread wings in her lap; below her, bull's head to left / Bull trotting to right, head turned left. BMC Crete 30. Svoronos p. 168, 84 and pl. XV, 7 (same obverse die). Very rare and enigmatic variety. Overstruck on another coin, displaying a few minor striking defects, still much clearer than usually seen for this type, and attractively toned.
Ex Brünn Collection (property of Dr. Ludek Vostal); acquired from the A. Picek Collection, originally obtained in Italy prior during World War I (see below).
This attractive type depicts the tale of Europa and the bull. Europa, a beautiful Phoenician maiden, was spotted by Zeus while she was picking flowers. Zeus became enamored with her, transformed himself into a tame white bull, and approached her. Enchanted, she caressed the bull and climbed onto his back. Seeing his chance, Zeus ran to the sea and swam, with her on his back, to the island of Crete, where (after the usual round of divine lovemaking), he made her queen. The imagery of Europa naturally features prominently on the coinage of Crete, but there are some puzzling aspects of this coin type. For example, the eagle in Europa's lap, and the tree in which she appears to be sitting, do not feature in the traditional tale.
Besides its intriguing image and rarity, this coin has another great story to tell: During World War I, An Astro-Hungarian soldier named A. Picek saved the life of an Italian banker during the battle of Caporetto in 1917. The grateful Italian gifted the soldier with two bags of old coins, which contained a small group of ancient Cretan silver pieces, including this specimen. This became the seed corn for a large and diverse collection of ancient coins that Mr. Picek finally sold in 1975 to Dr. Ludwig Vostal, who kept the collection intact until just recently.
Estimate: 2200-3000 USD