Nomos 21

IONIA. Smyrna. Circa 220-190 BC. Drachm (19 mm, 4.21 g, 12 h). Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. ΣΜΥΡΝΑΙΩΝ Homer seated to left, bare to the waist with his himation draped over his legs, holding a long scepter with his left hand and a scroll in his right. Milne, Silver Drachma of Smyrna NC 1921 p. 143 f (same dies). Extremely rare, probably the fifth example known. A lovely, clear example, well-centered and of fine style. Good very fine.

From a European collection, in Switzerland prior to 2010.

The figure of Homer on the reverse shows him in a particularly noble way, similar to the usual representations of Zeus. In fact, the only difference between the two figures is that Homer holds a scroll containing some of his poetry rather than a thunderbolt.