Lot 4127

Description

Attica, Athens, silver tetradrachm, (129-128 B.C.) or revised date 97-96 B.C., (16.29 g), obv. head of Athena Parthenos to right, wearing triple crested Athenian helmet, ornamented with Pegasos, dotted border, rev. owl standing right, head facing on prostrate amphora, to right Pegasus to left, **A QE across, across and left **API-STI-WN*, to left **FI/LWN*, over **APO/EMO, below amphora **SO*, on amphora letter A, all within olive wreath, (cf.S.2555, Thompson 959 [same dies] = Berry Collection, Svoronos Pl.68, 10 = Berlin Collection not in SNG Berry, another in ANS Collection], HGC 4, 1602). Very fine/good very fine, toned, on a small flan as usual, rare.

Ex Superior Stamp and Coin auction Sale, May 31, 1999 (lot 919 part).
Type represented in Thompson 'The New Style Coinage of Athens' Thompson 959 from same dies. Thompson reports 118 known tetradrachms of these magistrates from 30 obverse and 70 reverse dies. There is a difference of 32 year less between Thompson and the suggested revised chronology. This would make this issue 97-96 B.C.