Nomos 23

ITALY. Padua. Circa 1500-1600. Medal (Copper, 34 mm, 19.57 g, 10 h), based on the silver tetrobols of Histiaia, struck in the 2nd century BC; attributed to G. Cavino or to another member of the Paduan school. ΔΙΟΝΥΣΙΟΣ Head of youthful Dionysos to right, his hair bound with ivy and rolled into a knot behind his neck, and wearing an earring and a pearl necklace. Rev. ΙΣΤΙ - ΑΙΕΩΝ Nymph seated on stern of galley to right. Löbbecke, Hirsch XXIII, 1908, 118. For this obverse, combined with a reverse of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus,
see C. Johnson & R. Martini, Milano Sec. XVI Cavino, 1226. Toderi-Vannel 953. Intriguing and unusual, with a lovely deep red toning. About extremely fine.

From a European collection, ex Rauch 103, 23 March 2017, 786.

The types on this medal are copied from the well-known silver tetrobols struck in Histiaia during the first half of the 2nd century BC. However, the head on the obverse, here labelled as that of Dionysos, is actually that of the nymph Histiaia, as can be seen by the earring and the pearl necklace, neither being particularly suitable for Dionysos!