Lot 4948

Description

Peloponnesos, Argolis, Kleonai, (c.460-420 B.C.), silver obol, (o.764 grams), obv. head of Herakles to left, wearing lionskin headdress. rev. large K with conical shaped object to left all in incuse square, (S.2804 [œ140], BCD 1314 [LHS 96], BMC 1-5. Trait‚ III, 667, pl. CCXVII, 1-2). Toned, slightly rough surfaces, otherwise, nearly very fine/good very fine and very rare.

Ex BCD Collection and previously from an old collection from Leu Numismatics January 1979 lot includes various tickets. The reverse design on this coin is based on the contemporary coins of Argos. It has been suggested that these coins began to be struck by Kleonai after the destruction of Mykenai in 468, and this date would seem to be as good as any. The fact that no example of the 5th century silver coinage of Kleonai has been found at Nemea, while a few 5th century obols and hemidrachms of Argos have been, is most curious but does speak for their rarity. Various examples (lots 1314-1317) realised 375-800 SFr.