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Nomos 10

18 May 2015
Zunfthaus zur Saffran, Zürich
overview
Estimate: 250 CHF
Hammer Price:  340 CHF
Lot 16

THRACE, Chersonesos. c. 386-338 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 13mm, 2.39 g). Forepart of a lion to right, his head turned back to left. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square with two raised and two sunken squares; in one of the sunken squares, pellet, in the other, garlanded pilos. McClean 4078. Bold, attractive and with an interesting symbol. Extremely fine.


Chersonesos is actually the name for the general area that is now known as the Gallipoli Peninsula (the name Gallilpoli comes from the Greek Kallipolis = ‘beautiful city’) and is used for the regional coinage that was probably struck in Kardia. The hemidrachms of the 4th century were issued in vast numbers for trade and military purposes and are characterized by an elaborate series of control symbols that appear in the sunken quarters of their reverses. This one shows a pilos (Latin pileus), a conical cap (the most famous wearers of piloi were the Dioskouroi). Some scholars have thought this symbol was an omphalos but that is not possible: the engraver showed that the bottom of the ‘hat’ is hollow and also included a ring at the top.

Online bidding closes: 18 May 2015, 11:00:00 CEST Current Date & Time: 19 Apr 2024, 20:54:29 CEST Remaining Time: Closed Hammer Price:340 CHF

Pre-Bidding closes on 18 Mai 2015 at 11:00 CEST. Live bidding starts at 14:00 CET and is EXCLUSIVELY available on biddr. Separate registration is required.

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