Nomos AG
Auction 16 10 May 2018
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Islands off Caria. Karpathos. Poseidion. Circa 500-475 BC. Stater (Silver, 23 mm, 13.63 g). Two dolphins: the larger swimming to left above a smaller dolphin swimming to right; below the lower dolphin, uncertain sea creature or a bunch of grapes shown horizontally; all within a rectangular frame consisting of two concentric linear rectangles with dots between them; in each of the upper corners of the frame, floral ornament. Rev. Incuse square composed of two horizontal rectangles, each with an irregular filling and divided by a tripartite horizontal band. Stefanaki 29 (D7/R11, this coin). Extremely rare. Well struck and fresh. Minor surface roughness and some tiny scratches on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.
From the Cinquantenaire Collection, Switzerland, ex Roma 4, 30 September 2012, 383.
Thanks to Stefanaki's exhaustive study of the coinage, we now can be certain that these coins were struck in Potidaion/Poseidion on Karpathos. This piece forms a group of two specimens, the other being from the Zagazig Hoard of 1902 (Stefanaki 30); what distinguishes them is the curious item to be seen under the lower dolphin on the obverse. This item is very clearly not a small dolphin or a fish, which is what it is termed by Stefanaki and all previous commentators (in the publication of the Zagazig Hoard and in the Roma catalogue): it is composed of small beads and rather plump, and is quite different from the linearly made fish that appear all other obverse dies of this type. It is clearly something else: the possibility that it is a bunch of grapes seems the most logical. In any event, this is a tremendously interesting coin.
From the Cinquantenaire Collection, Switzerland, ex Roma 4, 30 September 2012, 383.
Thanks to Stefanaki's exhaustive study of the coinage, we now can be certain that these coins were struck in Potidaion/Poseidion on Karpathos. This piece forms a group of two specimens, the other being from the Zagazig Hoard of 1902 (Stefanaki 30); what distinguishes them is the curious item to be seen under the lower dolphin on the obverse. This item is very clearly not a small dolphin or a fish, which is what it is termed by Stefanaki and all previous commentators (in the publication of the Zagazig Hoard and in the Roma catalogue): it is composed of small beads and rather plump, and is quite different from the linearly made fish that appear all other obverse dies of this type. It is clearly something else: the possibility that it is a bunch of grapes seems the most logical. In any event, this is a tremendously interesting coin.