Description
Thrace. Maroneia. Stater ca. 386-347 BC. Silver 11.25 g.; 24 mm. Magistrate Kallikrateos.
Obverse: Bridled horse rearing or galloping to the left, loose bridle; below, a small long-haired dog // Reverse: Vine with grape bunches within square, magistrate name (ΕΠΙ ΚΑΛΛΙΚΡΑΤΕΩΣ) around; all within incuse square. Reverse caption: ΕΠΙ Κ - ΑΛΛ - ΙΚΡΑ – ΤΕΩΣ
HGC: 3.2-1533.
Splendid Stater, among one of the finest examples known of this type. Few rare die breaks, very characteristic of these very rare examples with the small dog as a symbol. A very well centred coin, with a beautiful horse, no visible damage to the flan and slight circulation wear on the grape bunches on reverse.
Almost uncirculated AU 55-58
Provenance Details
Ex Faune d'Argent Collection.
Comment
We have found only a very limited number of examples with the name of this magistrate and with this very cute and finely engraved little dog. The horse, on the other hand, is strikingly realistic thanks to the superb engraving and its excellent preservation. All the parts of its body, its mane, its head and its tail, have been engraved to make them look almost tangible and realistic. A magnificent production, for an extremely rare coin worthy of major collections.
Finally, it should be noted that the rare examples we found did not always have this die combination, so its combination is even rarer. HGC 3.1, 1533 (unlisted symbol); Jameson 1061 (same obv. die); Schönert-Geiss 488-490 (V33/R59) = 488 (V33/R-) & 490 (V-/R59); SNG Copenhagen 603 = A.B. West: Fifth and Fourth Century Gold Coins from the Thracian Coast, in: ANS NNM 40 (1929), p.138, 84 (same obv. die) & 87 (same rev. die); Winterthur 1219 (same dies); CN Type 979.
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