Le più belle rappresentazioni di guerrieri

[King John]

Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 150	Auction date: 2 December 2024
Lot number: 548 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction
Lot description: Selinus Tetradrachm circa 440, AR 29 mm, 17.34 g. ΣΕΛ – ΙΝ – ΟΝΤ – ΙΟΣ Slow quadriga l. in which stand Apollo and Artemis, respectively shooting arrow and holding reins. Rev. ΣΕΛ – Ι – NΟ – Σ The river-god Selinos, naked, standing l. holding branch and pouring libation over garlanded altar, in front of which stands cockerel; in r. field, statue of bull standing l. on platform set upon stepped block; above, Selinon leaf. Rizzo pl. 31, 13. C. Boehringer, Konkordanz, 8. Schwabacher 4. SNG Lloyd 1222 (these dies). Rare and in superb condition for this difficult issue. Struck on a very large flan and exceptionally complete. Superb iridescent tone and extremely fine Ex Giessener Münzhandlung 33, 1986, 37 and Nomos 25, 2022, 43 sales. The close relationship between the Classical period coinage of Selinus and Himera has not escaped notice, as it seems to provide evidence of ties between these two cities, despite their locations on opposite shores of Sicily. We can recognise a general similarity between the tetradrachms of these cities: both have a chariot scene on the obverse and a sacrifice scene on the reverse. We can also see that a cock, the badge of Himera, has been incorporated into the design of this magnificent Selinus tetradrachm; indeed, it enjoys as prominent a position as the Selinon leaf, which was the canting type for Selinus. The solidarity of these Greek cities dates back to at least 480 B.C., when Himera and Selinus alone supported the Carthaginians against Acragas, who was a troublesome rival to both. It is a curious, yet typically Greek Sicilian twist of fate that Himera and Selinus were both destroyed by Carthage in 409 B.C. The chariot scene is atypical in that it includes two deities – in this case the sibling gods Apollo and Artemis. Artemis drives the quadriga as her twin brother Apollo draws his bow; the choice of this type is hardly surprising since Apollo was the deity of choice at Selinus, which had a massive temple dedicated to the god on its eastern hill. The reverse shows the river-god Selinus holding a lustral branch of purification as he strides toward a garlanded altar to sacrifice from a patera (for four interesting varieties, see Kraay- Hirmer nos. 186, 188-190). We are fortunate that the inscription names Selinus, who otherwise might be mistaken for Apollo. In addition to the aforementioned cock and Selinon leaf, there is also a bull upon a monumental base. Were it not for the fact that the base differs so greatly from one die to the next, we might presume that it was a local monument; but the inconsistent presentation virtually rules out that possibility. A. H. Lloyd, in his study of the coin types of Selinus in the 1935 Numismatic Chronicle, identifies the statue as the brazen bull of Phalaris in which Phalaris of Acragas (tyrant c. 570- 549 B.C.) is said to have roasted his enemies alive. Since Himera was one of the important acquisitions of Phalaris in his quest to become tyrant of Sicily, Lloyd considered this type to represent the longstanding friendship between Himera and Selinus. Estimate: 35000 CHF ILLUSTRAZIONE: SCENA DI LIBAGIONE CON UN GIOVANE UOMO (APOLLO?) CHE VERSA IL CONTENUTO DI UNA PHIALE SU DI UN ALTARE

 

Modificato 6 Novembre da King John

[King John]

Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 150	Auction date: 2 December 2024
Lot number: 855 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction
Lot description: Antoninus Pius augustus, 138 – 161 Medallion 151-152, Æ 35 mm, 35.23 g. ANTONINVS AVG – PIVS P P TR P XV Laureate head r. Rev. Heracles standing facing, grabbing Antaeus with his two hands and lifting him off the ground; in r. field, rocky ground and in l. field, club, lion-skin and quiver close to a tree. C –. Gnecchi –. Toynbee –. Apparently unique and unrecorded. A very interesting and appealing reverse composition. Brown tone gently smoothed, otherwise good very fine Privately purchased from Edward J. Waddell. From the Dr. Briggs Braillar collection. On the reverse of this unique medallion is illustrated the fight between Hercules and Antaeus. A giant of Libya and the son of Poseidon and Gaia (the earth goddess), Antaeus would challenge travelers to wrestling matches, easily killing his opponents and collecting their bones to construct a temple to his father. Antaeus had defeated most of his opponents until it came to his fight with Hercules. He met him during his way to the Garden of Hesperides to complete his eleventh labor. Upon finding that he could not beat Antaeus by throwing him to the ground as he would reheal due to his parentage (Gaia), Hercules discovered the secret of his power. Holding Antaeus aloft, Hercules crushed him in a bearhug. Estimate: 7500 CHF ILLUSTRAZIONE: Monumento ad Ercole ed Anteo. Il Monumento è opera dell'artista fiammingo Teodoro Vanderstruck e risale agli anni tra il 1684 e 1687. Pensato originariamente per ornare la vasca collocata davanti a Palazzo Ducale, in realtà venne più volte trasferito fino all'attuale collocazione all'interno della Casa della Musica. Una copia della statua è posta a ridosso della facciata posteriore del Municipio . Il Monumento originale è realizzato in rame ed è noto anche con il nome dialettale parmigiano " I du Brasè". Rappresenta l'unico statua rimasta tra quelle che si trovavano all'interno del Giardino Ducale dei Farnese

Modificato 7 Novembre da King John

[King John]

Classical Numismatic Group > Electronic Auction 572	Auction date: 9 October 2024
Lot number: 207 Price realized: 120 USD   (Approx. 109 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description: SICILY, Gela. Circa 208-200 BC. Æ Hemilitron (19.5mm, 6.08 g, 12h). Wreathed head of Gelas right / Antiphemos standing right, holding sword, about to sacrifice ram leaping right; H to left. Jenkins, Gela, Group XIVa, 558; BAR Issue 1; CNS 69; HGC 2, 385. Rough dark green-brown patina, cleaning scratches. VF. Rare. Ex Musa Numismatic Art inventory 14212 (ND); Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 494 (23 June 2021), lot 18; Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 360 (30 September 2015), lot 5; CNG Inventory 712059 (April 1999). Estimate: 100 USD