nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011
1014 2:1
2:1
1014 Ainianes. Circa 360s-350s. Obol (Silver, 0.88 g 12), Hypata. Laureate head of Zeus to left, as above. Rev. ΑΙΝΙΑΝ Sword in scabbard and spear point. Jameson 1080. Traité IV, 453, pl. CCLXXXVII, 16. Very rare. Toned and attractive. Good very fine. 400 Ex Sotheby’s, London, 22 April 1970, 120 (£42) and from the collection of S. Pozzi, Naville I, 4 April 1921,1190. The weapons on the reverse are those used by Phemios.
1015
1015 Ainianes. Circa 302-286 BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 20mm, 4.37 g 9), Hypata. Laureate and bearded head of Zeus to left. Rev. ΑΙΝΙΑΝ-ΩΝ Phemios, nude but for chlamys over his shoulder and sword in scabbard, shooting sling to right; behind, leaning against his right leg, two spears. BMC 18. Rogers 137. SNG Copenhagen 4-5. An unusually fine example, with a dark, smooth olive-green patina. About extremely fine. 175 Acquired from ASW in July 1983 for CHF 475, originally ex Frank Sternberg stock. The exact dating of the coinage of the Ainianes after the 4th century is rather in flux. We know they were joined to the Aetolian League from c. 286/272 -168, and it is believed that they produced no independent coinage during this period, save for some rare bronze of Aitolian type (as below, lot 1017). Afterwards they produced a considerable coinage in the later 2nd and 1st centuries. The present piece, and the following lot, seem not to fall into either late group: neither have a magistrate’s name, and must be earlier. Neither seem as early as the mid 4th century so they have been given the traditional date of the late 4th or early 3rd century. This surely may change.
1016
1016 Ainianes. Circa 302-286 BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 16mm, 2.87 g 5), Hypata. Laureate head of Zeus to right; behind head, thunderbolt. Rev. ΑΙΝΙΑ-ΝΩΝ The hero Phemios, as above, lots 11 ff., but not certainly using a javelin, though with a petasos in his left hand, and with two spears behind him, that lean against his right leg. Rogers 136 var. Rare. Attractive red and green patina. Good very fine. 125 Ex Künker 27, 27 September 1994, 191 (part). The reverses of the coinage of the Ainianes can be divided into two main groups: the first, which I believe is the earlier, bears the figure of Phemios who appears as a warrior with a short spear and either a petasos or a petasos-like small shield; the second also bears a depiction of Phemios, but using a sling instead of a spear. In any case the coins that show him as a slinger are definitely later in date. The present coin appears to combine both types and is typical of the kind of confusing iconography found on some Greek coins!
1017
1017 Ainianes. Circa 279-168. (Bronze, 18mm, 3.26 g 12), Struck using the types of the Aitolian League, Hypata. Epikrates. Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. ΑΙΝΙΑ/ ΕΠΙΚΡΑΤΟ[Υ]/ΝΩΝ Spearhead over jawbone of a boar. Rogers 140 var. Rare. Dark brown patina. About extremely fine. 150
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