Naville Numismatics Ltd.
Auction 76 2 Oct 2022
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Macedonia, The Orrescii Stater late sixth-early fifth century BC, AR 19.00 mm., 9.01 g.
Centaur r., abducting nymph. Rev. Crested Corinthian helmet within quadripartite incuse square. Svoronos, Hellenism Primitif, pl. V, 22 and 24. AMNG III, 18. Asyut 93
Very rare. Old cabinet tone and Very fine
From the collection of a Mentor.
The Orreskii were an obscure Thracian people bordering the Bisalti and Edoneans who had access to the rich silver mines of Mount Pangaion. In the early fifth century BC they struck several coinages from the ore taken from the mountain. The types and weight standard of the present stater reflect the economic influence of neighboring Greek and Thraco-Macedonian peoples. The weight of the coin indicates that it was struck to circulate alongside the coinage of Thasos-an important Greek trading power in southern Thrace-as does the obverse type. The representation of a centaur carrying off a nymph is modeled on the standard Thasian stater type of a satyr carrying off a nymph. On the other hand the Corinthian helmet within an incuse square on the reverse may perhaps indicate the influence of the Derrones, a contemporary Thraco-Macedonian people who frequently featured a Corinthian helmet as a symbol or type on their coins.
In addition, winning bids of UK (England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland) clients for this coin are subject to a 5% fee on hammer price as a reimbursement for import duty paid to HMRC.
Centaur r., abducting nymph. Rev. Crested Corinthian helmet within quadripartite incuse square. Svoronos, Hellenism Primitif, pl. V, 22 and 24. AMNG III, 18. Asyut 93
Very rare. Old cabinet tone and Very fine
From the collection of a Mentor.
The Orreskii were an obscure Thracian people bordering the Bisalti and Edoneans who had access to the rich silver mines of Mount Pangaion. In the early fifth century BC they struck several coinages from the ore taken from the mountain. The types and weight standard of the present stater reflect the economic influence of neighboring Greek and Thraco-Macedonian peoples. The weight of the coin indicates that it was struck to circulate alongside the coinage of Thasos-an important Greek trading power in southern Thrace-as does the obverse type. The representation of a centaur carrying off a nymph is modeled on the standard Thasian stater type of a satyr carrying off a nymph. On the other hand the Corinthian helmet within an incuse square on the reverse may perhaps indicate the influence of the Derrones, a contemporary Thraco-Macedonian people who frequently featured a Corinthian helmet as a symbol or type on their coins.
In addition, winning bids of UK (England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland) clients for this coin are subject to a 5% fee on hammer price as a reimbursement for import duty paid to HMRC.