Lot 3645

Description

Ionia, Smyrna, (c.2nd-1st century B.C.), AE 21, (8.99 g), obv. laureate head of Apollo to right, rev. the poet Homer seated to left with the Magistrates name Appidaios, to right **[Z]MURNAIW[N]* above, to left in one line **APPIDAIOS*, and monogram MEKO, (S.4571, BMC 87 [p.245]). Choice dark brown patina, extremely fine and very rare in this condition, with a superb figure of the seated Homer.

Ex Clive Shute Collection and B.A. Seaby, Ltd., London 21.9.1971.
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 is linked and represents the Homerea a famous statue of Homer from Symrna mentioned by Strabo.