Lot no. 30
IONIA, SILVER TETRADRACHM OF KLAZOMENAI, ca. 370 BC, 14.357g, 12h. Ward 664 (this coin). Very rare. Attractively toned. With an astonishingly fine portrait of Apollo in high relief and of a dazzling beauty. Usual corrosion, otherwise, good very fine. Former Metropolitan Museum of Art collection, Sotheby 1973 lot 556; former John Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913), John Ward (1832-1912) and William Boyde (1814-1893) collections
This tetradrachm is unquestionably one of the great masterpieces of Greek numismatic art, and surely one of the loveliest. Facing heads were very difficult to engrave and only the very best, or most confident, die cutters attempted to do them. First used successfully on Sicilian coinage in late 5th century, there was a great vogue for such heads in the 4th century, the best known being those from Rhodes, Amphipolis and Klazomenai.
Pictures credits: Contact organization
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