Lot 4531

Description

Peloponnesos, Sicyonia, Sicyon, silver stater of Aeginetic standard, (431-400 B.C.), (11.82 g.), obv. Chimaera to left, on ground line, normal **SE* below, rev. dove flying to left, with open wings, **D* above tail feathers of the dove, olive branch tied on right, all within olive wreath, (BCD Sale LHS 96, lot 188 [p.63], cf.Traite 775 [p.527,
cf.Pl.CCXX, 17], cf.SNG Cop. 48 [Pl.1], BMC 54 [p.40], cf.S.2764). Good very fine, very rare.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Triton XIII Auction Sale January 5, 2010 (lot 2182 part) originally from a private purchase from the BCD Collection by CNG; previously obtained from Hoard C. The LHS Sale 96, May 8, 2006, had a similar lot (lot 188 realised 3400 SFr + 15%).
Almost all pieces known for all varieties carry the letters normal **SE* below. Sicyon, located on the Corinthian Gulf, was a prosperous commercial town and most prolific mint after 400 B.C. in Peloponnesus. The Chimaera presence on the coinage may have ties to the Achaen cult of Bellerophon, slayer of the monster and to the Corinthian coin types derived from this myth, for Corinth was the legendary ancient enemy of Sicyon. The dove on the reverse was probably the animal of Aphrodite, whose worship was important at Sicyon.