CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY
- Emperor:
- Magistrates Κτησι (Ktesi) and Ευμα (Euma)
- Denomination:
- AR Tetradrachm, 'New Style'
- Composition:
- Silver
- Date:
- circa 139/8 BC
- Obverse:
- Head of Athena Parthenos right, wearing triple-crested Athenian helmet, ornamented with Pegasos and foreparts of horses
- Reverse:
- Owl standing right, head facing, on prostrate amphora, inscribed with K; Nike right holding wreath; A - ΘE / KTH/ΣI - EY/MA left and right, in field; below amphora, EY; all within wreath
- Reference:
- cf. Thompson Athens 274f (same obverse die); HGC 4, 1602; BMC Attica [Athens] p. 61, 435-436 var. (EY bottom left, no letter on amphora); (SNG Copenhagen 132-133 var. (no letters on amphora or lower field); SGCV I 2552-2559 var. (different magistrates); SNG Copenhagen -; SNG München -; SNG Berry -; SNG Soutzos -; Kroll -
- Size:
- 34.84mm, 16.35g, 11h
- Province:
- Attica, Athens
- Grade:
- F, obverse slightly off centre, cabinet toned, struck with worn dies, edge chipped
- Rarity:
- very rare, only few examples of this type in online auction searches; not in most references
- Pedigreed:
- Provenance:
- Pedigreed: from the B. H. Webb Collection, ex Classical Numismatic Group eAuction 407 (11 October 2017), Lot 145
On the new style coinage, continuing the tradition of the old style, 'AΘE' is short for 'Athens'. However distinct from the old style, there are letters in the left and right fields which are names of magistrates. Further, according to David R. Sear: 'the letter appearing on the amphora denotes the month of issue, those in the lower field possibly the origin of the bullion from which the issue was struck.'
I, Peter A. Piliouras of Ancient Coin Traders irrevocably guarantee for life to the Purchaser that this ancient coin is authentic. If this coin is deemed not to be authentic by a professional certification service, then I will refund to the Purchaser the full cost of acquiring the coin (including shipping) together with the certification fees.
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Signed: Peter Anthony Piliouras
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Date