Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 114 13-14 May 2020
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UNCERTIAN. 5th-1st centuries BC. AV (10.5mm, 0.53 g). Bearded head facing / Blank. As made.
From the Jonathan P. Rosen Collection. Ex G.J.P. Collection (Roma XII, 29 September 2016), lot 173.
A variety of thin, uniface disks of this nature are known that have a single obverse type that mimics a coin type (see, e.g., CNG 75, lot 376, mimicking the obverse of coins of Ephesos; CNG 55, lot 359, mimicking the reverse type of New Style Tetradrachms of Athens; and CNG 55, lot 1866, mimicking the reverse type of Sikyon staters). Numerous coin issues could have influenced the type chosen here; among the most popular are facing heads of a satyr or Silenos. All of these pseudo-coins have no sign of attachment, are too thin for normal use, and are often found in burial sites. In ancient times, it was customary to place coins with the dead during burial so that the deceased could pay the boatman Charon to ferry them across the river Styx. These uniface tokens probably also served this same purpose.
From the Jonathan P. Rosen Collection. Ex G.J.P. Collection (Roma XII, 29 September 2016), lot 173.
A variety of thin, uniface disks of this nature are known that have a single obverse type that mimics a coin type (see, e.g., CNG 75, lot 376, mimicking the obverse of coins of Ephesos; CNG 55, lot 359, mimicking the reverse type of New Style Tetradrachms of Athens; and CNG 55, lot 1866, mimicking the reverse type of Sikyon staters). Numerous coin issues could have influenced the type chosen here; among the most popular are facing heads of a satyr or Silenos. All of these pseudo-coins have no sign of attachment, are too thin for normal use, and are often found in burial sites. In ancient times, it was customary to place coins with the dead during burial so that the deceased could pay the boatman Charon to ferry them across the river Styx. These uniface tokens probably also served this same purpose.