Lot 4480

Description

Boiotia, Thebes, (378-338 B.C.), silver stater, Charo.. (Charon) Magistrate, (12.008 grams), issued 379-368 B.C., obv. Boeotian shield, rev. amphora, in concave field, wreath above, across letters **Y*A RO either side, (cf.S.2398, Hepworth Series B2, No.93, BMC 166, Weber 3284, SNG Cop. 353, BCD Triton IX Sale lot 508). Off centred, with die flaw on reverse, nearly extremely fine and a very scarce type.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group Auction Sale, September 19, 2001 (lot 438). Robert Hepworth "The 4th Century B.C. Magistrate Coinage of the Boiotian Confederacy pp.61-89 (Numisatic Chronicle, Hellenic Numismatic Society, 1998) describes the series as having 97 different reverse varieties noted from 1700 examples recorded from all the sources. The series is divided into four major groups with sub-division within. It is established by die-links and hoard evidence of the approximate order of issue. The series appears to have an annual change of magistrates. This variety is noted by Hepworth as part of Group B2, No.93 in table and as in 379 B.C. (See Hepworth Epaminondas p.39), also known to rarity of 6-20 known examples. Charon was the leader of the successful, nationalist insurrection in Thebes in 379 B.C. (See Hepworth Epaminondas p.39), also known to readers in Celator "Operation Petticoat" (Celator, Vol.8, No.1, January 1994).