Disney goes to Leontini

[Deinomenid]

The Artemide sale in September just posted, with this  highlight. A "Stunning Apollo". And claimed it is the same as the Hoover example. It may be stunning,  but more  in the sense of a punch to the face than anything else. This sort of claim makes me worry about an auction house more generally.  A word of restoration doesn't help - that's not restored. It is  butchered.

Oh and bidding STARTS at 2k euros.

 

"Sicily. Leontini. AR Tetradrachm, c. 440-430 BC. From a reverse die signed by the 'Maestro della foglia'. Obv. Laureate head of Apollo left. Rev. LEONTINON. Head of a lion with open jaws left; around, three barley grains and, behind the head, a laurel leaf. HGC 2 670 (same obv. die as illustration); SNG ANS 241 (same dies); Boehringer, Münzgeschichte 53 (same obv. die). AR. 17.49 g. 27.00 mm. Restoration on obverse. An outstanding example, sharply struck, with lovely warm dark patina. EF."

 

The second  coin is a slightly better example, just as a reference for what Apollo coins of the time actually were.

 

[CPK]

That's awful! 😬

[akeady]

To be fair, the style is correct for HGC 2, 670 and the one above is double-struck:

The second example you post is a different issue with a different style - the one which has been infamously forged in modern times!

ATB,
Aidan.

Edited July 8 by akeady
Problem with the picture?

[Deinomenid]

I didn’t even mention that sub-absurdity. Double struck indeed. The technical term for double struck now appears to be  “sharply struck”.

 

[Deinomenid]

To be  scrupulously fair (though they aren't and they are massaging  ignorance in my view!) to the seller, this is specifically rather than generically what the botched reconstruction was targeting (Akeady's link wasn't working). A handsome coin.

Edited July 8 by Deinomenid
reduce photo size

[Hrefn]

The hobo nickel of tetradrachms. 

NOT MY COIN.  🙄