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Nomos 16

10 May 2018
Zunfthaus zur Saffran, Zürich
overview
Estimate: 60000 CHF
Hammer Price:  60000 CHF
Lot 32

SICILY. Katane. Circa 461-450 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 26 mm, 16.71 g, 11 h). Man-headed bull (the river-god Amenanos) swimming to right; above, satyr leaping over the bull’s back to right, placing a wreath on his head; below, in exergue, ketos swimming to right. Rev. ΚΑΤΑΝΑΙΟΝ Nike, wearing chiton and peplos and with open wings, standing right, holding an open taenia or fillet in each hand. Jameson 534 (same dies). Cf. Randazzo 60-68 for a similar obverse die. Cf. Rizzo pl. IX, 14 (with the same obverse die but with Nike to left). Very rare. Attractively toned, well centered and unusually nice. Some traces of die rust and with a very lightly double struck reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

Ex Nomos 5, 25 October 2011, 115, and from a European collection, bought in the 1980s.

The early tetradrachms of Katane, produced after the refoundation of the city following the Aitna episode, were very well designed. However, they were minted in what appears to be great haste since so many are badly made: off center or lightly struck, or from rusty dies. This makes it likely that they were produced over a relatively short period, perhaps only a few years. This conclusion is supported by C. Arnold-Biucchi in her commentary on the examples found in the Randazzo Hoard (pp. 22-24; the present type is one of the very few Katane varieties not in that hoard).

Online bidding closes: 10 May 2018, 05:00:00 CEST Current Date & Time: 28 Mar 2024, 12:09:03 CET Remaining Time: Closed Hammer Price:60000 CHF

Pre-Bidding closes on 10 Mai 2018 at 5:00 CEST. Live bidding starts at 14:00 CET and is EXCLUSIVELY available on biddr. Separate registration is required.

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