Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3051 8-9 January 2017
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Ancients
LOCRIS. Opuntia. Ca. 380-338 BC. AR stater (24mm, 12.06 gm, 4h). NGC XF 5/5 - 5/5, Fine Style. Struck 340's BC. Head of Demeter right, hair wreathed with wheat grains, earring of five pendants, bead or peal necklace / OΠONTIΩN, Ajax the Lesser advancing right, holding small sword and shield, the interior surface decorated with a griffin; at feet, grounded spear. Gulbenkian 495 (same obverse die); SNG Lockett 1693 (same obverse die). BCD Lokris-Phokis 70. A lovely specimen struck from dies of elegant style and beautifully toned.
Ex Robert Schonwalter Collection (Triton V, 15-16 January 2002), lot 1353.
Ajax the Lesser, depicted on the reverse of this attractive type, hailed from Locris Opuntia and led a flotilla of 40 ships during the Trojan War. Upon Troy's fall, he was alleged by Odysseus to have violated a sanctuary of Athena by ravishing Cassandra, thus bringing the wrath of Athena down upon himself and his countrymen. Ajax himself perished on the return voyage, and the rest of the Opuntians reached home only with great difficulty. Nevertheless, they annually honored their former leader by launching a ship fitted with black sails and laden with gifts, which was then set alight.
Estimate: 5000-7000 USD
LOCRIS. Opuntia. Ca. 380-338 BC. AR stater (24mm, 12.06 gm, 4h). NGC XF 5/5 - 5/5, Fine Style. Struck 340's BC. Head of Demeter right, hair wreathed with wheat grains, earring of five pendants, bead or peal necklace / OΠONTIΩN, Ajax the Lesser advancing right, holding small sword and shield, the interior surface decorated with a griffin; at feet, grounded spear. Gulbenkian 495 (same obverse die); SNG Lockett 1693 (same obverse die). BCD Lokris-Phokis 70. A lovely specimen struck from dies of elegant style and beautifully toned.
Ex Robert Schonwalter Collection (Triton V, 15-16 January 2002), lot 1353.
Ajax the Lesser, depicted on the reverse of this attractive type, hailed from Locris Opuntia and led a flotilla of 40 ships during the Trojan War. Upon Troy's fall, he was alleged by Odysseus to have violated a sanctuary of Athena by ravishing Cassandra, thus bringing the wrath of Athena down upon himself and his countrymen. Ajax himself perished on the return voyage, and the rest of the Opuntians reached home only with great difficulty. Nevertheless, they annually honored their former leader by launching a ship fitted with black sails and laden with gifts, which was then set alight.
Estimate: 5000-7000 USD