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Nomos 25

20 November 2022
Zunfthaus zur Saffran, Zurich

overview
Estimate: 1400 CHF
Hammer Price:  2200 CHF
Lot 37
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SICILY. Katane. Circa 410-405 BC. Drachm (Silver, 18 mm, 4.02 g, 3 h). Head of Silenos facing, with full beard, pointed ears and bald head. Rev. ΚΑΤΑΝΑΙΩΝ Head of the river god Amenanos to left, his hair bound with a taenia and with a tiny horn on his forehead. Franke/Marathaki 133. Kraay-Hirmer 46 var. Rizzo pl. XIV, 5. SNG ANS 1262. SNG Lloyd 909 (same dies). Weber 1272. Very rare. With a lovely head of Silenos, and attractive old toning with light iridescence surrounding the devices. Considerable traces of corrosion, especially on the reverse, otherwise, very fine.

From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions, and from the collection of G. Abecassis = The Outstanding Collection, Leu Numismatics 81, 16 May 2001, 68.

This is one of the incredible masterpieces that coin engravers working in late 5th century Sicily were capable of producing. The coin is unsigned but the quality of the head of Silenos makes it one of the very finest facing heads ever to appear on a Greek coin. Katana had a close connection to Silenos because of the vines around the city; as for Amenanos, he was the god of the local river, which flowed in and around the ancient city until the great eruption of Etna of 1669. It was then covered over and, in part, flows under the modern city, being tapped for the famous fountain of Amenano in the Piazza Duomo (built from Carrara marble in 1837 - the actual river flows about 2 meters below the fountain).

Online bidding closes: 20 Nov 2022, 09:00:00 CET Current Date & Time: 28 Mar 2024, 21:21:08 CET Remaining Time: Closed Hammer Price:2200 CHF

Pre-Bidding closes on 20 November 2022 at 9:00 CET. Live bidding starts at 14:00 CET and is EXCLUSIVELY available on biddr. Separate registration is required.

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