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Nomos 24

22 May 2022
Zunfthaus zur Saffran, Zurich

overview

Ex BCD and Gillet

Estimate: 5000 CHF
Hammer Price:  34000 CHF
Lot 96
Video

EUBOIA, Euboian League. Circa 357-338 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 26 mm, 16.61 g, 11 h). Head of the Nymph Euboia to right, her hair bound in a roll around her head. Rev. ΕΥΒ Steer standing to right, his head turned slightly towards the viewer. Gillet 918 (this coin) = Wallace 14 (OVI/R 8, this piece cited as being in trade in 1950). Very rare. Struck in an austerely elegant Classical style, attractively toned. Very fine.

From the BCD Collection, Lanz 111, 25 November 2002, 6, and from the collection of Charles Gillet, acquired in the 1950s.

A note from BCD: I could never understand the indifference shown for this tetradrachm by the experienced collectors attending the BCD Euboia sale. To me the nymph’s head on the obverse cannot be anything else but beauty in its purest form. Furthermore, considering the rarity of the type, this coin should have hammered well above its estimate. But it remained unsold!

And yet, these same collectors, unknowingly, have given me the repeated opportunity, for more than 20 years now, to take it out from its resting place, place it on blue velvet, go to a shady spot with north daylight and just allow myself to be carried away by its beauty.

All kinds of thoughts come to mind when looking at it. One of them, perhaps outrageous to some, is that the celator engraved the die in such a way that circulation wear would enhance the allure of the nymph’s head, rather than detract from her beauty.

Whatever the truth may be, one thing is for sure: this coin has been loved and cherished as few others in my collection. And what is more important, it has given me much joy by just holding it in my hand and feeling thankful that life has granted me such moments of pure pleasure.

Now that my eyesight is fading, it is time to part with it. May its next owner cherish it as much as I did.

Online bidding closes: 22 May 2022, 09:00:00 CEST Current Date & Time: 29 Mar 2024, 13:36:14 CET Remaining Time: Closed Hammer Price:34000 CHF

Pre-Bidding closes on 22 Mai 2022 at 9:00 CEST. Live bidding starts at 14:00 CET and is EXCLUSIVELY available on biddr. Separate registration is required.

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