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Nomos 25

20 November 2022
Zunfthaus zur Saffran, Zurich

overview
Estimate: 1000 CHF
Hammer Price:  2800 CHF
Lot 62
Video

CIMMERIAN BOSPOROS. Pantikapaion. Circa 470-460 BC. Tetartemorion (Silver, 5.5 mm, 0.09 g). Ant seen from above. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square, pellet in two opposing quarters angles. Frolova Type XX. HGC 7, 54. MacDonald 6. Very rare. A dramatically attractive coin with a vigorous depiction of an ant. Reverse struck off-center, otherwise, about extremely fine.



It may seem odd that an ant was chosen as a coin type, but since Pantikapaion was the great entrepôt for the gold from the steppes, and the gold dust from the steppes was thought to be discovered in the form of dust in ant hills, an ant - as a kind of gold miner - would be s most suitable type for a coin from Pantikapaion! As for the denomination, a tetartemorion was equal to a quarter obol; in ancient Pantikapaion jury members were paid 2 3/4 obols a day, which equalled 11 quarter obols or an enakaidekatetartemorion. Because the ant was used as a type for the quarter, local people termed this an "Ant and Dek".

Online bidding closes: 20 Nov 2022, 09:00:00 CET Current Date & Time: 20 Apr 2024, 12:39:20 CEST Remaining Time: Closed Hammer Price:2800 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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