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Dallas Signature Sale 3093 28-29 Oct 2021
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BRUTTIUM. Caulonia. Early 5th century BC. AR stater or nomos (27mm, 7.51 gm, 12h). NGC XF 5/5 - 3/5. Ca. 500-480 BC. KAVΛO (retrograde), full-length figure of Apollo, nude, advancing right, torso turned facing, olive branch in raised right hand, pursuing Daphne running right, transforming into laurel tree with branches as arms; bird (heron?) flying right under arm, stag standing right in right field, head reverted, guilloche border / KAVΛO (retrograde), incuse of obverse, reversed save for ethnic and Daphne which are in relief; striated border on incuse band. Noe 42. SNG ANS 156. Deep cabinet toning with hints of aqua and violet.
Caulonia was founded in the 7th century BC by Achaean Greeks, either emigres from their homeland or the nearby city of Croton. The location of the city was on the underside of Italy's "toe," on a headland jutting out into the sea, which has since disappeared beneath the waves. Underwater archaeology has located more than 100 fluted columns and two spectacular mosaics, both depicting dragons, among the ruins dating to the 5th-4th centuries BC. The columns were likely for a large shrine to Apollo, the deity depicted on the city's beautiful and intriguing coinage.
This magnificent piece is dominated by the figure of Apollo, entirely nude and shown in a refined Archaic form, striding to the right. On Apollo's left arm, a small figure, traditionally described as a winged daemon, is depicted running right; to Apollo's right stands a stag, sacred to both Apollo and his sister Artemis. However, as mentioned earlier, the tradition of claiming the small figure as a winged daemon does not seem to be grounded with any evidence connected to either the city or Apollo's mythology and iconography. Most likely, the iconography depicts the myth of Apollo's hopeless pursuit of the nymph Daphne. Upon seeing Daphne for the first time, Apollo had a moment of either love at first sight, or with some intervention of a certain god of love, Eros, fell madly in love with Daphne. He began chasing her. In order to protect herself from his dangerous pursuit, as she had vowed to be a maiden, she pleaded to her father, Peneus, for assistance. In response, Peneus, a river god, transformed Daphne into a laurel tree, thereby thwarting Apollo's pursuit. Still loving Daphne, Apollo vowed to honor her for all time; thus the laurel tree, which is Daphne in Greek (ΔΆΦΝΗ), became Apollo's chief attribute, with the laurel wreath he wore upon his head and the laurel staff he often carried. The laurel wreath became used as a prize for victors, as well as a symbol for the power of leadership. Therefore, the small figure on the coin running away from Apollo with branches in their hands, or as arms, is most likely Daphne mid-metamorphosis.
The artist designed this coin type placing in perspective the three figures and giving each a separate ground line and size to show a depth of field. Apollo is the largest and most prominent figure; as such, he is in the foreground. The deer is smaller and has its own ground line, placing it further back in the scene, in the midground. Lastly, there is the small figure of Daphne with her ground line behind Apollo's arm. She is the smallest figure because she is the furthest away. She looks back to see if Apollo is still in pursuit as she runs away mid-transformation. By depicting the figures this way, the artist cleverly shows the full story of the myth, stuck forever in a pregnant pause.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/bruttium-caulonia-early-5th-century-bc-ar-stater-or-nomos-27mm-751-gm-12h-ngc-xf-5-5-3-5/p/3093-14006.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3093-10282021
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 800-1200 USD
BRUTTIUM. Caulonia. Early 5th century BC. AR stater or nomos (27mm, 7.51 gm, 12h). NGC XF 5/5 - 3/5. Ca. 500-480 BC. KAVΛO (retrograde), full-length figure of Apollo, nude, advancing right, torso turned facing, olive branch in raised right hand, pursuing Daphne running right, transforming into laurel tree with branches as arms; bird (heron?) flying right under arm, stag standing right in right field, head reverted, guilloche border / KAVΛO (retrograde), incuse of obverse, reversed save for ethnic and Daphne which are in relief; striated border on incuse band. Noe 42. SNG ANS 156. Deep cabinet toning with hints of aqua and violet.
Caulonia was founded in the 7th century BC by Achaean Greeks, either emigres from their homeland or the nearby city of Croton. The location of the city was on the underside of Italy's "toe," on a headland jutting out into the sea, which has since disappeared beneath the waves. Underwater archaeology has located more than 100 fluted columns and two spectacular mosaics, both depicting dragons, among the ruins dating to the 5th-4th centuries BC. The columns were likely for a large shrine to Apollo, the deity depicted on the city's beautiful and intriguing coinage.
This magnificent piece is dominated by the figure of Apollo, entirely nude and shown in a refined Archaic form, striding to the right. On Apollo's left arm, a small figure, traditionally described as a winged daemon, is depicted running right; to Apollo's right stands a stag, sacred to both Apollo and his sister Artemis. However, as mentioned earlier, the tradition of claiming the small figure as a winged daemon does not seem to be grounded with any evidence connected to either the city or Apollo's mythology and iconography. Most likely, the iconography depicts the myth of Apollo's hopeless pursuit of the nymph Daphne. Upon seeing Daphne for the first time, Apollo had a moment of either love at first sight, or with some intervention of a certain god of love, Eros, fell madly in love with Daphne. He began chasing her. In order to protect herself from his dangerous pursuit, as she had vowed to be a maiden, she pleaded to her father, Peneus, for assistance. In response, Peneus, a river god, transformed Daphne into a laurel tree, thereby thwarting Apollo's pursuit. Still loving Daphne, Apollo vowed to honor her for all time; thus the laurel tree, which is Daphne in Greek (ΔΆΦΝΗ), became Apollo's chief attribute, with the laurel wreath he wore upon his head and the laurel staff he often carried. The laurel wreath became used as a prize for victors, as well as a symbol for the power of leadership. Therefore, the small figure on the coin running away from Apollo with branches in their hands, or as arms, is most likely Daphne mid-metamorphosis.
The artist designed this coin type placing in perspective the three figures and giving each a separate ground line and size to show a depth of field. Apollo is the largest and most prominent figure; as such, he is in the foreground. The deer is smaller and has its own ground line, placing it further back in the scene, in the midground. Lastly, there is the small figure of Daphne with her ground line behind Apollo's arm. She is the smallest figure because she is the furthest away. She looks back to see if Apollo is still in pursuit as she runs away mid-transformation. By depicting the figures this way, the artist cleverly shows the full story of the myth, stuck forever in a pregnant pause.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/bruttium-caulonia-early-5th-century-bc-ar-stater-or-nomos-27mm-751-gm-12h-ngc-xf-5-5-3-5/p/3093-14006.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3093-10282021
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 800-1200 USD