Greek Silver & Bronze

Lot 3097    Session 11 (9.30am Thursday)    Greek Silver & Bronze

Estimate $2,800
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $3,000

ITALY, Bruttium, Locri Epizephyrioi, issue for Alexander the Molossian, (342-334 B.C.), silver stater, (10.710 grams), obv. laureate head to right head of Zeus Naios of Dodona, rev. **ALEXANDROU* to left, **TOU NEOPTOLEMOU* to right, thunderbolt, between, eagle head to right, (cf.S.1983 [gold stater], Boston 943, Vl.1866, Vlasto, 'Alexander, son of Neoptolemos of Epirus' Num. Chron, 1926 p.158 Group A, No.1Ab [This Coin], JIAN 1911 No.621, Pl.XI No.27 [This Coin]). Grey tone, good fine/fine, and very rare.

Ex A.H. Lloyd Collection, previously from E.N. Mavrogordato Collection as illustrated in Svoronos J.I.A.N. (1911) p.286 No.621 (Pl.XI, 27). M.P. Vlasto published this coin (the second known example from these dies) and one of only six known for the type (all share the same reverse die). Vlasto states (p.180-3) that these six Group A coins 'are certainly the earliest struck by Alexander in Epirus and the noble style of these beautiful coins so closely resembles that displayed on some of the masterpieces of the Olympian mint that I have ventured to suggest that may be the work of an engraver from Elis. As lord of Dodona it is quite natural that Alexander should [use this effigy of Zeus and his thunderbolt badge]'. No examples are known in better than very fine condition and of the six, three are in museums. Vlasto believed and convincingly argued, that this small issue was struck in Epirus, and the others later issues were all struck in South Italy (Locri or Tarentum). However other authors including Holloway and Franke suggest they all were minted in various Italian cities. This, the first issue, wherever they were made was of the finest style and very few if any more have been found since Vlasto's study in 1926.