Lot 4139

Description

Ionia, Smyrna, (c.2nd-1st century B.C.), AE 21, (7.06 g), obverse, laureate head of Apollo to right, reverse, the poet Homer seated to left with the Magistrates names Herodes and Archios, to right **ZMURNAI[WN]* above, to left in two lines **HRWDHS ARCIOU*, (S.4571, Hunter 29 [p.361]). Choice dark green patina, extremely fine and extremely rare in this condition, with a superb figure of the seated Homer.

Ex CNG, USA, Sale 35, September 20, 1995 (lot 289, realised US$176) and Noble Numismatics Sale 65 (lot 1810) and Sale 73 (lot 3318).

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.