Leu Numismatik AG
Web Auction 14 12-13 Dec 2020
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CILICIA. Soloi. Circa 385-350 BC. Stater (Silver, 23 mm, 10.61 g, 11 h), signed by Apatorios. AΠATOPIΩΣ EΓΛYΨEN Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with a griffin on the bowl. Rev. ΣO-ΛE-ΩN Grape bunch; to left and right, AI-P; all within incuse square; the tendril outside. Leu Web Auction 9 (2019), 435 (same dies). NFA XXV, 29 November 1990, 172 = SNG Paris 175. SNG Levante -. SNG von Aulock . Extremely rare, appaently the third known example of this important issue. Struck from the usual worn obverse die, otherwise, very fine.
The exceptional obverse legend AΠATOPIΩΣ EΓΛYΨEN literally translates as 'Apatorios has engraved' and therefore is a signature of the artist Apatorios. The very unusual verb 'has engraved' was perhaps added by the sculptor to avoid confusion between his name as an artist, of which he was evidently proud, and the name of the magistrate on the reverse. Apatorios also signed a small number of dies at Issos, where he left the additional verb out, as those issues do not carry the name of a magistrate.
The exceptional obverse legend AΠATOPIΩΣ EΓΛYΨEN literally translates as 'Apatorios has engraved' and therefore is a signature of the artist Apatorios. The very unusual verb 'has engraved' was perhaps added by the sculptor to avoid confusion between his name as an artist, of which he was evidently proud, and the name of the magistrate on the reverse. Apatorios also signed a small number of dies at Issos, where he left the additional verb out, as those issues do not carry the name of a magistrate.