Nomos 21

ISLANDS OFF CARIA, Kos. Circa 480-475 BC. Triple Siglos (Silver, 21x25 mm, 16.60 g). [ΚΟΣ] Nude ephebe standing facing, with one leg before the other and his torso bent to the left, his hands stretched out next to his head and holding a discus in his right, preparing to whirl and throw it; in the field to left, tripod. Rev. Irregular incuse square. Barron, Diskoboloi 10 (A8 / P5?). Extremely rare. With one of the great Greek numismatic depictions of an athlete – a triumph of late Archaic – early Classical die engraving. Some traces of corrosion and scratches, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

From the Metacomet Collection, ex Gemini/Heritage VIII, 14 April 2011, 80.

This coin comes from a series that is one of the most iconographically important of all Greek coinage. It shows the instant when a discus thrower was just beginning to start his turn and provide the momentum to hurl the discus. The athlete's head, clearly visible here, gives us a perfect example of the type found on contemporary marble kouroi. The masterful artistry shown by the engraver is truly remarkable – it so impressed the cataloguer responsible for its description in the Gemini catalogue that none of its minor defects were even noticed. For all that, this is an absolutely splendid coin of great power.