Eugène Delacroix (1798-1863). Sheet of nine greek coins. 1825. Lithograph. 30x21cm. Signed and dated in stone. Printed by Bertauts, published by L'Artiste, Paris. Fourth state of five. Delteil 46. Usual foxing. Of great numismatic interest. From a private collection

Beyond his most emblematic works, it is less known that the young Delacroix had a taste for ancient coins. For two years, between 1824 and 1825, he thus produced several lithographs depicting Greek coins, still perfectly recognizable today, from the Cabinet des médailles (Paris). Art historian Théophile Silvestre even described these studies as "the foundation of Delacroix's drawing system"