The New York Sale
Auction 42 9 Jan 2018
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Bruttium, Kaulonia. Silver Nomos (7.63 g), ca. 500-480 BC. KAVΛO (retrograde), Apollo advancing right, holding branch; small daimon running right on Apollo's outstretched arm; to right, stag standing right, head turned back. rev. Incuse of obverse, but daimon and ethnic in relief and palm branch to right. Noe grp. D, 53 (same obv. die); HN Italy 2038. Rare. Underlying luster present. About Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $2,000
From the Dionysus Collection.
This issue of Kaulonia belongs to a remarkable class of coins struck by Greek cities in southern Italy in the late sixth century BC and characterized by incuse reverse designs replicating the raised designs of the obverse. The reason for the development of this peculiar and technologically complex method of coining (obverse and reverse dies needed to be produced with precision so that the raised and incuse designs would line up properly on the finished coin) remains unclear. It has been suggested, a little implausibly, that the incuse reverses were employed to facilitate the easy stacking of coins. Perhaps somewhat more likely are the suggestions that the incuse reverses might have been intended to thwart counterfeiting or that they represent the influence of local tradtions of repoussé work in Magna Graecia. Whatever the case, the coins are impressive in the technological skill required to create them and charming in their Archaic style.
From the Dionysus Collection.
This issue of Kaulonia belongs to a remarkable class of coins struck by Greek cities in southern Italy in the late sixth century BC and characterized by incuse reverse designs replicating the raised designs of the obverse. The reason for the development of this peculiar and technologically complex method of coining (obverse and reverse dies needed to be produced with precision so that the raised and incuse designs would line up properly on the finished coin) remains unclear. It has been suggested, a little implausibly, that the incuse reverses were employed to facilitate the easy stacking of coins. Perhaps somewhat more likely are the suggestions that the incuse reverses might have been intended to thwart counterfeiting or that they represent the influence of local tradtions of repoussé work in Magna Graecia. Whatever the case, the coins are impressive in the technological skill required to create them and charming in their Archaic style.