Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History, Stamps & Coins

Wreathed head of the nymph Histiaia to right / The nymph Histiaia seated to right on stern of galley, holding stylis; wing on galley, IΣTI-AIEΩN around. HGC 4, 1525. 1.97gr, 13mm, 12h.

Very Fine.

Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

Archaic head of Athena to right, wearing crested helmet decorated with chevron and dot pattern, and round earring / Owl standing to right with head facing, olive sprig behind, ΑΘΕ before; all within incuse square. Cf. Svoronos pl. 4, 31; HGC 4, 1590. 17.05gr, 23mm, 9h.

Very Fine.

Acquired on UK art market. Property of a Middlesex gentleman.

Head of Artemis to right; quiver at shoulder / ΑΘΕ, plemochoe within wreath. Kroll 104; Svoronos pl. 106, 76-81; HGC 4, 1746. 1.58gr, 11mm, 5h.

Very Fine. Very rare.

Acquired on the European coin market. Property of a Kent, UK, gentleman.

Laureate head of Apollo to right / Quiver; AΘΕ in fields. Svoronos, Monnaies pl. 106, 33-41. 0.94gr, 9mm, 12h.

Near Very Fine. Extremely rare; no other examples on CoinArchives.

Acquired on the European coin market. Property of a Kent, UK, gentleman.

It is in the Periods II-III and after the acquisition of Delos in 167/166 BC, that Delian Apollo and his attributes make their appearance as Athenian coin types and dominate the obverses of these small bronze denominations.

Pegasos flying to left; Ϙ below / Head of Athena to left, wearing laureate Corinthian helmet; A-P below, aegis behind. Pegasi 427; Ravel 1009; BCD Corinth -; SNG Copenhagen 71; HGC 4, 1848. 8.32gr, 21mm, 8h.

Very Fine. Professionally cleaned.

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Autumn Sale 2024, 30 September 2024, lot 361. Property of a Middlesex gentleman.

Laureate head of Zeus to right / Monogram of the Achaian League; Λ-Ν(?) across fields, uncertain symbol below. 2.22gr, 15mm, 9h.

Near Very Fine.

Acquired on the UK art market. From the collection of Mr Carlos Bahamonde, Manchester, UK.

Jugate heads of the Dioskouroi to right / Λ-A, two amphorae; Α-Φ-Ι in fields. BCD Peloponnesos II 2349; Grunauer group XV, series 9; HGC 5, 629. 3.63gr, 17mm, 12h.

Near Very Fine. Rare.

Acquired on the European coin market. Property of a Kent, UK, gentleman.

Dove flying to left; [pellet above tail?] / Chimaera standing to left, raising forepaw; ΣI below. Cf. BCD Peloponnesos 292; HGC 5, 213. 2.49gr, 15mm, 12h.

Near Very Fine.

Acquired on the UK art market. From the collection of Mr Carlos Bahamonde, Manchester, UK.

Dove feeding to right / Tripod within olive wreath. BCD Peloponnesos 318.3-4; HGC 5, 275. 2.08gr, 13mm, 2h.

Near Very Fine.

Acquired on the European coin market. Property of a Kent, UK, gentleman.

Laureate head of Apollo to left / Δ-H, lyre. SNG Copenhagen 670; BMC 7; HGC 6, 500. 0.75gr, 10mm, 4h.

Very Fine.

Acquired on the European coin market. Property of a Kent, UK, gentleman.

Laureate head of Apollo to right / Radiate forepart of the dog Seirios to right; KAPΘΑ above, bee below. BMC 44; SNG Copenhagen -; HGC 6, 560. 3.92gr, 17mm, 12h.

Near Very Fine. Rare.

Acquired on the European coin market. Property of a Kent, UK, gentleman.

The citizens of Keos watched for the rising of the Seirios ('Dog Star', the brightest star in the night sky) every year from the mountaintops. By observing the appearance of the star, the inhabitants would try to determine whether the island would suffer from epidemics or not. If the star appeared clear and bright, the islanders would experience a healthy year, but if it appeared misty and dull, disease would spread across the island. There was a cult where the inhabitants of Keos tried to guard against the effects of Seirios using rituals. They prayed to Aristaios, the son of Apollo and Kyrene, who was taught both medicine and divination by the Centaur Chiron. He came to the island, built an altar, and ordered the islanders to pray to Zeus for refreshing winds and rains (see Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 2.518 ff).

Bearded head of Dionysos to left, wearing wreath of ivy with berries at the tip / Kantharos; grape bunch above, ivy leaves at sides, N-A flanking base. Nicolet-Pierre, Naxos II, Canthare 1a, 1-6; SNG Copenhagen 709; HGC 6, 641. 1.20gr, 10mm, 3h.

Near Very Fine. Very rare.

Acquired on the European coin market. Property of a Kent, UK, gentleman.