Greek Silver & Bronze Coins

Lot 3131    SESSION 11 (9.30AM THURSDAY 2ND APRIL)    Greek Silver & Bronze Coins

Estimate $500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,250

IONIA, Teos, (c. 440-420 B.C,), silver stater (12.11 g). obv. Griffin seated right, raising forepaw, panther head in right field, around T H I O N, line border, rev. quadripartite incuse square, (S.4577, Balcer group LIV [same dies obv.A103, rev.135], BMC 19). Good very fine, weak in places, rare.

Ex George Mihailuk Collection, from Richard Welling 10.8.2007, from CNG eSale 164 (lot 75) and earlier CNG eSale 63 (lot 507).

Teos was founded at an early date by colonists from Orchomenos, followed by later settlers from elsewhere in Boeotia and Athenians. Perhaps this mixture of components lead to their adoption of the griffin as a civic symbol, a creature of both land and air. The griffin was also most appropriate as a coin type, a mythical beast who protected the gold deposits in the land of the Arimaspi in the far north and those of distant India. The fine silver coinage of Teos was just as secure. The griffin followed the Teans when they abandoned their city to found a new colony at Abdera in Thrace,