Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 118 13-14 Sep 2021
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
THRACE, Abdera. Circa 500-475 BC. AR Octodrachm (28mm, 28.82 g). Griffin seated left, raising right forepaw; to left, small Δ above forepart of lion(?) left above large Δ / Quadripartite incuse square. May, Abdera, Period II, 38 corr. (A32/P36; control marks); HGC 3, 1126; Sartiges 159 (same dies). Toned, a little granular. Good VF. Extremely rare, none in CoinArchives, only three of this issue noted in May.
From the Mercury Group Collection. Ex Ponterio 124 (17 January 2003), lot 381. Lot includes a David Sear Certificate of Authenticity.
May identified the control marks on the obverse of this die as a grape bunch on vine above a delta. His two illustrations of this die (May 37 and 38), however, are of poorly-preserved examples, where a die break has formed on the obverse, which appears to be a vine. Interestingly, he did not closely examine the Sartiges example, which he noted, as the control marks there clearly show his error. The present example has the clearest representation of the animal forepart, but it is still somewhat unclear.
From the Mercury Group Collection. Ex Ponterio 124 (17 January 2003), lot 381. Lot includes a David Sear Certificate of Authenticity.
May identified the control marks on the obverse of this die as a grape bunch on vine above a delta. His two illustrations of this die (May 37 and 38), however, are of poorly-preserved examples, where a die break has formed on the obverse, which appears to be a vine. Interestingly, he did not closely examine the Sartiges example, which he noted, as the control marks there clearly show his error. The present example has the clearest representation of the animal forepart, but it is still somewhat unclear.