Nomos 25

THRACO-MACEDONIAN REGION. Uncertain mint. Circa 525-480 BC. Half-stater or drachm (Silver, 14 mm, 3.95 g), Eion(?). Eagle with closed wings and a sharp beak, standing to right, turning his head back to left. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. Nomos 21 (2021) 109. Leu 72 (1998), 171 (this coin). Traité I 1721. Cf. AMNG III², Unbestimmte 34, pl. 27, 15 for an example with the eagle to left. Struck from similar, if not the same, dies as the inferior piece from the Vecchi collection that appeared as Roma e-live 5, 2022, 308. Extremely rare. Well-struck and centered, nicely toned. Struck on a slightly tight flan, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

From the "Collection Sans Pareille", ex Leu 72, 1998, 171 and Classical Numismatic Auctions XVI, 16 August 1991, 60.

According to Gaebler the issuing authority of this exciting coin should be located in Eion, as the obverse type is very close to the standard types of that city. Yet the fact that on the coinage of Eion we have a goose as the main type, rather than an eagle, excludes the possibility that this coin was indeed minted there. An attribution to Olophyxos in Chalkidiki would be tempting, but the weight standard (and the reverse punch) better suits a mint in the Thraco-Macedonian region and it is very close to those used in Berge, and by such tribes as the Orreskii, Mygdones or Krestones, etc.; thus, an attribution to the vicinity of the Pangaion area is more plausible. It should be noted that the recent example from the Vecchi Collection was given the possible attribution to Olynthos, which given the eagle, is also quite reasonable.