LOT 2716
Caria, Iasos AR Hemidrachm. 404-390 BC.
Laureate head of Apollo to right / IAΣE, lyre within incuse square. HN Online 613; SNG Copenhagen 408. Good Very Fine. Toned. Rare.(1.74gr, 12mm, 9h.).
ProvenancePrivate collection, acquired 1980–1985.
FootnotesAccording to the ancient authors, the mountains in the neighbourhood of Iasos were a source of beautiful marble, of blood-red and vivid white colour, ideal for ornamental purposes. Near the town was a sanctuary of Artemis Astias, with a statue of the goddess, and just as it was widely believed that the statue of the Kindyan Artemis, although in the open air, was never touched by snow or rain, so was the statue of Artemis Astias believed by the Iaseis.
TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
-
Sasanian Kingdom, Husrav (Khosrau) II AR Drachm. AD 590-628.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
PR (Furat-i-Meshan) mint. Dated RY 31 (AD 621/2). Draped bust to right, wearing mural crown with two wings and star set on crescent; star-in-crescent before; all within double border with star-in-crescents in margin / Fire altar with ribbons flanked by attendants; star and crescent flanking flames, date to left, mint to right; all within triple border with star-in-crescents in margin. Göbl II/3; cf. SNS 644-645. 3.96gr, 33mm, 9h.
Good Very Fine. Exceptionally rare mint of Furat-i-Meshan in Iraq.
Ex property of a UK gallery, early 2000s. -
Sasanian Kingdom, Vahram (Bahram) II, with Queen and Prince 4 AR Drachm. AD 276-293.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £221
'Ctesiphon' (?) mint. Jugate busts of Vahrām (Bahram), wearing winged crown with korymbos, and his queen, wearing kolah with boar's head, to right, vis-a-vis bust of Prince 4, wearing kolah with eagle's head, left / Fire altar; flanked by two attendants facing outward, each wearing winged crown with korymbos; fravahar to left of flames. Cf. SNS type VIa(1)/2(1a), Style A. 3.56gr, 26mm, 3h.
Good Fine.
Acquired on the UK market before 2000. Property of a London, UK, gentleman. -
Rhodos, Rhodes AR Drachm. Circa 88/42 BC-AD 14.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £221
ΣΩΜΑΧΟΣ (Somachos), magistrate. Radiate head of Helios facing slightly to right / Rose of six petals seen from above; ΣΩΜΑΧΟΣ above, P-O across fields, palm branch to left below. Unpublished magistrate's name in the major references including Ashton. 4.00gr, 21mm, 8h.
Good Very Fine. The second known example of this magistrate [Numismatik Naumann 82, 156 (hammer 1,200 EUR).
Property of a North London, UK, gentleman.
The name Somachos is not found anywhere else, although it does not appear to be of Rhodian origin (for more see Alan J. Nussbaum, Rhodian Personal Names in Αγλου-, Αριστου-, Τιμου- and the Dialect History of the Island, p. 455 in 'A Tribute to Massimo Poetto on the Occasion of His 70th Birthday', Warsaw, 2019).
