Lot 4634

Description

Attica, Athens, (c.454-404 B.C.), silver hemidrachm (1.92 g), a Contemporary imitation, obv. helmeted head of Athena to right, rev. owl standing right, with head facing, olive sprig behind, **AQE* before; all within incuse square, (cf.S.2527, cf.Kroll 12, cf.SNG Cop.44, cf.Bertolami Fine Arts ACR Auctions 6 [lot 447] an issue of Judaea). Very fine, toned with hoard patina deposits, very rare.

Early Bactrian hemidrachms from the vicinity of Sophytes (SNG) are of similar style. However this coin is stylistically unique by being late archaic to classic period, and also a lesser weight. Our piece, however, has still clearly archaic style characteristics and is probably an imitation of the early, probably from the East or from Judaea.