Lot 59
ARKADIA. Pheneos. Circa 370-340 BC. Obol (Silver, 13 mm, 0.90 g, 2 h). Bust of youthful Hermes to right, his cloak tied around his neck and with his petasos hanging behind, suspended by a cord. Rev. [ΦΕ] Ram standing to right; above, kerykeion to right. BCD 1608. BMC 5. Traité II, 3, 891. Weber 4317. Rare. With a wonderful head of Hermes in high relief on the obverse. Minor flan crack and with a slightly double-struck reverse, otherwise, virtually as struck.
From a European collection, ex Nomos 6, 8 May 2012, 78, and originally acquired prior to 2009.
The main 4th century silver coinage of Pheneos consisted of very rare staters and drachms and very scarce hemidrachms, all bearing heads of Demeter on their obverses and either a standing or seated figure of Hermes or a bull on their reverses. Most of these coins were probably used for trade or mercenary pay. For local use the city also issued bronzes and a relatively small and rare group of obols, as this, bearing a head of Hermes and a ram.
