CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY
- Emperor:
- Nikarchos (magistrate)
- Denomination:
- AE Hemiobol - Hexachalkon
- Composition:
- Bronze
- Date:
- circa 50-30 BC
- Obverse:
- Diademed head of Demeter facing right
- Reverse:
- NIKAPXOC (name of magistrate), Zeus standing right, holding sceptre and eagle on outstretched arm; to right, ME, tripod and wreath
- Reference:
- Grandjean Series XI, Emission κ, 497a (V281/R445 – this coin, illustrated); BCD Peloponnesos 748; SNG Copenhagen 518; SNG Kikpe 621; BMC Peloponnesos [Messenia] p. 112, 37; HGC 5, 579; SNG Soutzos; Kroll -
- Size:
- 20.21mm, 4.6g, 1h
- Province:
- Messenia, Messene
- Grade:
- VF, attractive red and green patina, slight roughness, obverse a little off center
- Rarity:
- Rare, only a few examples in online auction archives
- Pedigreed:
- Provenance:
- Pedigreed: from the BCD Collection together with his round tag noting 'Lot/coll., Feb 1991, SFz. 30.-', ex Classical Numismatic Group: eAuction 408 (25 October 2017), Lot 130; Inventory 8333484 (January 2009)
- Information:
- From the BCD Collection. Plate coin, published and illustrated in 'Grandjean'.
This coin was published and illustrated in Catherine Grandjean. 'Les Messéniens de 370/369 au 1er siècle de notre ère. Monnayages et histoire'. Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique Supplément 44. Athens: École française d’Athènes (2003). Messene was re-established after the Battle of Leuctra in 371 broke the Spartan's long-lasting rule over the Messenians. A place for exiled Messenians, the new Messene was heavily fortified by a wall surrounding the city. It was built on top of the ruins of Ithome an Achaean Greek city, destroyed by the Spartans.
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