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Session Five - Tuesday, February 14th 10:00am PST
Enlargement
1671 Cyclades, Syros. Silver Tetradrachm (16.17 g), ca. 145-140 BC
. Head of Demeter right, wreathed with grain ears.
Reverse:
KABEIP
N
YPI
N, two Kabeiroi standing facing, each holding scepter; in lower right field, XAP monogram; all within wreath. Cf. Nicolet-Pierre &
Amandry 13-8 (dies not recorded); Winterthur 2319; Dewing 1968; HGC 6, 709.
Very Rare.
Toned. Some light scattered scratches.
About Very
Fine
.
Estimate Value ....................................................................................................................................................................... $2,000 - 2,500
The Hanbery Collection; Purchased privately from F. Kovacs in the 1980s.
F
AMOUS
K
ANTHAROS
S
ILVER
S
TATER OF
N
AXOS
Enlargement
1672 Cyclades, Naxos. Silver Stater (12.32 g), ca. 540/30-520/15 BC
. Kantharos with grape bunch hanging from each handle; above, ivy leaf.
Reverse:
Quadripartite incuse square. Sheedy 12 (O8/R11; this coin); HGC 6, 624; Lockett 2616.
Extremely Rare.
Boldly struck and excellent
metal. A fabulous example of this historic issue.
A candidate for the world' s first commemorative coin.
Choice Very Fine
.
Estimate Value ........................................................................................................................................................................... $5,000 - UP
The Hanbery Collection; Ex Kovacs X (18 May 1990), 117.
The kantharos wine cup on the obverse of this coin alludes to the role of the Naxos in the mythology of the wine-god Dionysos. According to the
mythographers, after slaying the Minotaur and escaping the Labyrinth of Crete, Theseus fled to Naxos. He took with him Ariadne, the daughter of
King Minos who had helped him safely navigate the deadly maze. However, once at Naxos, the exhausted Ariadne fell asleep. Theseus, suddenly
forgetful of the great service she had done him on Crete, abandoned her and continued on his way home to Athens. Taking pity on the desolate
princess and attracted by her beauty, Dionysos appeared and took her as his wife. She subsequently became mother of minor deities related to
wine (Oinopion and Staphylus) and the heroes Thoas, Peparethos, Phanos, Eurymedon, Enyeus, Ceramos, Maron, Euanthes, Latramys, and Tau-
ropolis. Her wedding diadem was set in the heavens as the constellation Corona Borealis.