Baldwin's Smash World Record in New York The sale of the spectacular Prospero Collection shook the foundations of the ancient coin trade last night setting a new world record for the highest achieving ancient Greek coin.
dies); Kraay - Hirmer pl. 109, 315, and colour plate X). Two small insignificant nicks on the obverse and one on the reverse edge, extremely fine, very rare, a superb example and one of the most beautiful designs to appear on an ancient Greek gold coin.
Hammer: US$350,000
369
Attica, Athens (c. 467-465 B.C.), Silver Dekadrachm, 42.56g., . Head of Athena facing to right, wearing a crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive-leaves and a palmette, and wearing an earring and a necklace. Rev. A-Θ-E, owl standing facing, with its wings spread, an olive-twig with two leaves and fruit at upper left; the whole within an incuse square (W. Fischer-Bossert, The Athenian Decadrachm, 19c (O10/R19) (this coin); cf. Seltman 445-452; Starr group II.C; ACGC 188). Struck in high relief, a few light marks otherwise about extremely fine, extremely rare, only two other examples known from this pair of dies, of the highest numismatic and historical importance and a magnificent example of ancient art.
Hammer: US$350,000
483
Troas, Abydos (c. 410 B.C.), Gold Stater, 8.58g., . ABYΔ / HNON (the lower part of the legend retrograde), eagle standing left. Rev. Gorgoneion facing; within incuse square (E.S.G. Robinson, Some Electrum and Gold Greek Coins, Centennial Publication (ANS) 1958, 593, 13 and pl. 39, 13). A light scrape on reverse edge at 5 o’clock, obverse very fine, reverse good very fine, unique and of great importance.
Hammer: US$325,000
356
Phokis, Delphi (c. 485-475 B.C.), Silver Tridrachm, 18.36g., ΔAΛΦI-KON, two rhytons, in the form of ram’s heads, side by side, downwards, two dolphins leaping towards each other above. Rev. Quartered incuse square, each quarter with stepped sunken squares in the form of a “coffered ceiling”, each containing a dolphin and a spray of laurel leaves (Asyut 240 (this coin); Babelon, Traité 1392, pl. 42, 16; Kraay – Hirmer pl. 146, 461; Rosen 173; K. Regling, ZfN 37, 1927, pl. IV, 189; Kraay, ACGC 413). With a deep chisel-cut, otherwise lightly toned, extremely fine, exceedingly rare, less than a dozen known examples, a coin of great importance.
Hammer: US$325,000
For more information visit www.baldwin.co.uk/prospero
For all enquires about The Prospero Collection or to request a copy of the collection catalogue please contact Paul Hill at paul@baldwin.co.uk or on +44 (0)20 7930 6879.
For all press enquiries please contact Caroline Newton at carolinenewton@baldwin.co.uk or on +44 (0)20 7930 9808.
