Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 90 23 May 2012
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EPEIROS, Symmachy. Circa 330-300 BC. Æ (25mm, 18.73 g, 12h). Laureate head of Zeus right / Nike driving quadriga right; [A]ΠEIPΩTAN below (faintly visible). M. Oeconomides, "Χάλκινο νόμισμα των Hπειρωτών από τις ανασκαφές της αρχαιας Kασσώπης," HπειρXρον 26 (1984), pl. 11, 1; Franke –; SNG Copenhagen 724 (Syracuse). Near VF, rough dark green patina, pierced. Extremely rare, the fourth known.
The first of this type to appear was the example in Copenhagen, from the Proschowsky collection. The ethnic on the coin was not legible, and P. Lederer argued for an attribution to Syracuse (P. Lederer, “Eine verschollene Bronzemünze von Syrakus” in J. Allen, H. Mattingly, and E.S.G. Robinson, eds., Transactions of the International Numismatic Congress ... 1936 [London: Bernard Quaritch, 1938]). However, in 1984, M. Oeconomides reported an example found in the excavations of Kassopi, that had a legible ethnic, allowing for an accurate dating and attribution of this issue. Subsequently, another example appeared in the catalog of a private collection, making the current piece the fourth known.
The first of this type to appear was the example in Copenhagen, from the Proschowsky collection. The ethnic on the coin was not legible, and P. Lederer argued for an attribution to Syracuse (P. Lederer, “Eine verschollene Bronzemünze von Syrakus” in J. Allen, H. Mattingly, and E.S.G. Robinson, eds., Transactions of the International Numismatic Congress ... 1936 [London: Bernard Quaritch, 1938]). However, in 1984, M. Oeconomides reported an example found in the excavations of Kassopi, that had a legible ethnic, allowing for an accurate dating and attribution of this issue. Subsequently, another example appeared in the catalog of a private collection, making the current piece the fourth known.