Nomos 26

CORINTHIA. Corinth. Circa 450-415 BC. Diobol (Silver, 14 mm, 0.98 g, 6 h). Ϙ Pegasos, with curved wing, flying to left; in field to right, vine branch with bunch of grapes. Rev. Δ-Ι-Ο Pegasos facing and rearing, turned very slightly to the left; all within incuse square. BCD Corinth 44. BMC 119. Berend, Reflexions, pl. 2, 6 (this coin). HGC 4, 1882. Jameson 1208 (this coin). Very rare. Toned and most attractive - very probably the finest known example of this type. Minor areas of porosity, otherwise, extremely fine.

From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions, acquired prior to 1983 and from the collection of L. Mildenberg, R. Jameson, and Consul E. F. Weber, Hirsch XXI, 16 November 1908, 1784.

The reverse of this coin, with Pegasos rearing towards the viewer, is surely one of the most artistically advanced depictions of the legendary flying horse ever to appear on any coin of ancient times. The skillfully foreshortened view is really a tour de force of engraving and must have been inspired by contemporary painting. As for the reverse inscription, ΔΙΟ - the initial letters of διοβολος - diobol, this is an unusually full and clear denominational mark (often we only have a Δ - as on the preceding lot).