Nomos AG
Auction 21 21 Nov 2020
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MACEDON. Eion. Circa 460-400 BC. Trihemiobol (Silver, 12 mm, 0.96 g). Goose standing to right, head turned back to left; above, lizard to left. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. SNG ANS 278-284. Nicely centered, toned and well-struck. Extremely fine.
From the collection of Skleros Kotopoulos, acquired prior to 2000.
The trihemiobol coinage of Eion must have been issued in truly enormous numbers given how many exist today; this means that they surely served as the main money of the Delian League/Athenian forces that controlled the city and its area since its capture from the Persians c. 475. But no matter how common they are as a class, really nice examples of this coinage are hard to find – and this is an excellent example. The design, curved to fit the circular field of the coin's obverse, is clearly inspired by circular ring stones: not only are similar scenes found on Archaic Greek intaglios, but the type goes back to Minoan and Mycenaean times, when lentil-shaped carved stones with such designs were often made.
From the collection of Skleros Kotopoulos, acquired prior to 2000.
The trihemiobol coinage of Eion must have been issued in truly enormous numbers given how many exist today; this means that they surely served as the main money of the Delian League/Athenian forces that controlled the city and its area since its capture from the Persians c. 475. But no matter how common they are as a class, really nice examples of this coinage are hard to find – and this is an excellent example. The design, curved to fit the circular field of the coin's obverse, is clearly inspired by circular ring stones: not only are similar scenes found on Archaic Greek intaglios, but the type goes back to Minoan and Mycenaean times, when lentil-shaped carved stones with such designs were often made.