Lot 2509

Description

Euboia, Euboian League, silver drachm, (357-338 B.C.), (Wallace claims about 395 B.C.), (Dewing 357-338 B.C.), (4.27 g), (Aeginatic or Attic standard), obv. head of nymph Euboea to right, hair rolled, without earring and necklace, rev. head and neck of a cow three-quarters to right within incuse circle, EY above, B to right, grapes symbol to left of left ear, (S.2464, cf.Wallace 30, Group 1 variant cf.obv.XVIII, cf.rev.17 [NN&M 134, p.142 does not have any issues of this type with the grapes symbol to left of hair], cf.BMC 3-5 [p.24, Pl.XVII, 3 similar dies], cf.HGC 4, 1414 [no symbols, but of this weight standard). Extremely fine and extremely rare, probably unique, an important transitional issue.

Ex Noble Numismatics Sale 128, lot 2536. Previously the BCD collection, sold Numismatik Lanz Munchen, Sale 111 November 25, 2002 (lot 14) with BCD ticket and photos.^Only 41 drachms are known (Wallace) from this Euboean League of this heavy Attic standard and most are in the various museums. No coins come from this pair of dies, 29 coins from the EYB type and 5 coins from the EYBOI type. BCD notes that this is a well engraved and very appealing cow. The grapes symbol was not known to Wallace. Drachms with grapes symbol come later and have the nymph head to left. Consequently the grapes symbol on our coin is of the first type and a transitional one to the next issue using the early obverse nymph head to right and the EY -B abbreviated legend but introducing a symbol (grapes) not previously utilised.