Lot 3210

Description

Ionia, Smyrna, (c.2nd-1st century B.C.), AE 21, (10.076 grams), obv. laureate head of Apollo to right, rev. the poet Homer seated to left with the Magistrates names Apollophanes and Orbeiten, to right **ZMURNAIW[N]* above, to left in two lines **APOLLOFANH[S] OROBEITHN*, (S.4571, Hunter 27 [p.361]). Choice dark brown patina, extremely fine and extremely rare in this condition, with a superb figure of the seated Homer.

See article in Studia Paulo Naster Oblata I Numismatica Antiqua, 'Homer on Coins from Smyrna' by C. Heyman. The author maintains that this coin's reverse represents the Homerea a famous statue of Homer from Symrna mentioned by Strabo.