Nomos AG
Auction 21 21 Nov 2020
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
THRACO-MACEDONIAN REGION. Uncertain. Circa 525-480 BC. Half-stater or drachm (Silver, 13.5 mm, 4.80 g), Eion?. Eagle with closed wings, standing to right, turning his head back to left. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. Cf. AMNG III², Unbestimmte 34, pl 27, 15 for an example with the eagle to left. Struck from similar dies to the example that appeared as Roma 7, 2014, 469, there described as being ...apparently unique and unpublished, seemingly without parallel in the numismatic record. Extremely rare, only the second, and by far the better, example known; well-centered and clear. Good very fine.
The issuing authority of this exciting coin should be located according to Gaebler, in Eion, as the type and the setting of the obverse is very close to the standard types of that city. The fact that on the coinage of Eion we have a goose as a main symbol, excludes in our (DG) opinion the possibility that this coin was indeed minted by Eion. An attribution to Olophyxos in Chalkidiki would be tempting, but the weight standard (and the reverse punch) better suits a mint in the Thraco-Macedonian region and it is very close to those used in Berge and by tribes like the Orreskii, Mygdones or Krestones etc.; thus, an attribution to the vicinity of the Pangaion area is more plausible. It is very interesting that Gaebler assigns all the known issues of Eion as being products of an "uncertain" mint. This is actually logical as the type was attributed to the city because of a small H (the first letter of the ethnic Ἠιών) that appears on the obverse of some coins. In fact, other letters, aside from H, also appear on the obverses of the coins of "Eion" - A, N, O, which, effectively excludes the possibility that we have the first letter of an ethnic. The known find spots for coins of the "Eion" type also seemingly disprove the link to the Eretrian colony at the mouth of Strymon river.
The issuing authority of this exciting coin should be located according to Gaebler, in Eion, as the type and the setting of the obverse is very close to the standard types of that city. The fact that on the coinage of Eion we have a goose as a main symbol, excludes in our (DG) opinion the possibility that this coin was indeed minted by Eion. An attribution to Olophyxos in Chalkidiki would be tempting, but the weight standard (and the reverse punch) better suits a mint in the Thraco-Macedonian region and it is very close to those used in Berge and by tribes like the Orreskii, Mygdones or Krestones etc.; thus, an attribution to the vicinity of the Pangaion area is more plausible. It is very interesting that Gaebler assigns all the known issues of Eion as being products of an "uncertain" mint. This is actually logical as the type was attributed to the city because of a small H (the first letter of the ethnic Ἠιών) that appears on the obverse of some coins. In fact, other letters, aside from H, also appear on the obverses of the coins of "Eion" - A, N, O, which, effectively excludes the possibility that we have the first letter of an ethnic. The known find spots for coins of the "Eion" type also seemingly disprove the link to the Eretrian colony at the mouth of Strymon river.