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Auction: 19025 - Ancient, Indian and Islamic, British and Foreign Coins and Commemorative Medals
Lot: 1510

Macedonian Kingdom of Thrace, Lysimachos I (305-281 BC), AR Tetradrachm, Ainos, c. 283-282 BC, 16.86g, diademed head of the deified Alexander, wearing horn of Ammon, rev. Athena seated left, holding Nike crowning the king's name, lion's head and enthroned cult image of Hermes Perpheraios in field, monogram on throne (Thompson 257; Müller 119), light tarnishing, otherwise a pleasingly good very fine, scarce

provenance
W M Stoecklin, Nomos AG, sale 14, 17 May 2017, lot 85
W F Stoecklin collection (d. 1975)
Purchased Bank Leu, Zurich


The cult image of Hermes Perpheraios was reportedly carved by Epeios, of Trojan Horse fame. The idol however enshrined its own mythic status after being dredged up from the sea by fishermen of the island of Ainos. Initially regarded as worthless driftwood the party tried to split it for the fire, failing this they attempted to burn the whole icon but it would not catch. Finally in disgust they threw the timber back into the sea, only to trawl it back up on their next voyage

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Sold for
£1,000