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Nomos 20

10 July 2020
Zunfthaus zur Saffran, Zurich

overview
Estimate: 500 CHF
Hammer Price:  1600 CHF
Lot 268

SELEUKID KINGS OF SYRIA. Period of Alexander I Balas or Alexander II Zabinas. Weight of 1/4 Mina (Lead, 58 mm, 127.00 g, 3 h), uncertain city in southern Anatolia or the Levant. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΟΝΤΟΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ / ΤΕΤΑ - ΡΤΟΝ (= during the reign of King Alexander / 1/4 [Mina]) On a central raised boss, anchor with its crown above and stock below; around, on a lower level, inscription. Rev. ΡωΠΙΚΟΝ (= "for minor items") Dolphin swimming to left; around, pattern of hemicircles (waves?). Apparently unpublished. An intriguing and unusual piece. With a creme-colored patina. Minor marks and casting flaws, otherwise, good very fine.



This weight must be Seleukid because its type is the dynastic anchor; additionally, it bears the name of a King Alexander – though which one it does not say! It would be helpful if either of the types – the anchor and the dolphin – appeared specifically on either king's coins, since that might provide a clue to the date of the weight, but neither type does. The nautical flavour of the designs might indicate that this weight was made in a port city. The weight's ancient description, tetarton - ropikon, running from the obverse to the reverse, means "a 1/4 [mina] for minor items", which means that this weight was designed to be used for weighing ordinary, everyday items, rather than for more important or valuable ones (i.e., this weight was accurate enough for simple purchases, but not for serious things like precious metals).

Online bidding closes: 10 Jul 2020, 10:00:00 CEST Current Date & Time: 28 Mar 2024, 11:19:03 CET Remaining Time: Closed Hammer Price:1600 CHF

Pre-Bidding closes on 10 Juli 2020 at 10:00 CEST. Live bidding starts at 14:00 CET and is EXCLUSIVELY available on biddr. Separate registration is required.

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