Bruttium, Stater, ca. 420-400 BC
Terina - Silver - EF(40-45) - HN Italy:2602
PLEASE NOTE: this collector's item is unique. We therefore cannot guarantee its availability over time and recommend that you do not delay too long in completing your purchase if you are interested.
Head of the nymph Terina wearing a single-strand pearl necklace, her hair gathered in a sphendone decorated with meanders to the right, Π behind her head, at the nape of her neck.
Nike with open wings, wearing a chiton and a himation, legs slightly apart, seated left on a cippus on which she rests her left hand and holding in her right hand which she rests on her leg, a two-leaf olive branch.
A very well-preserved stater featuring an ovoid flan with gold highlights. The type of our coin depicting Nike on the reverse with her wings open is extremely rare, with less than a dozen examples ever seen on sale! Our coin was struck with a rare pair of dies. The book by Kurt Regling, published in 1906, provides the first analysis of these coins. In particular, he shows that the obverse die is only used for two types (43 and 44), as is the reverse die used this time for types 42 and 43. Still in his study, he indicates only 14 known coins for our combination - no. 43 - several of which have been seen for sale over the last twenty years. At least one example struck with the same dies is preserved in the British Museum. Our stater is all the more interesting for being signed. The artist engraved his signature - the letter Π - on the dies. It can be seen on the obverse, behind the nymph's head, at the nape of her neck. It is depicted in a very delicate way, making it almost invisible. As for the reverse, the works also mention its presence on the cippus. Despite the traces of wear visible on the highest reliefs of our coin, the designs are still clearly visible. On the obverse, the sphendone of the nymph is decorated with meanders, and groups of locks and hair are finely represented by thin lines. Her proportioned face is delicate and graceful. The reverse is extremely pleasing to the eye, despite the short flan cutting through the lower part of the iconography. Nike is elegantly engraved: her chiton and himation hug her body perfectly and are depicted with numerous folds, giving an impression of volume to the drapery. Her wings, particularly visible, are represented by well-defined groups of feathers in beautiful relief. The dynamic position of the goddess, particularly her left limbs, adds volume and relief, reminiscent of classical sculpture and statuary. The style of the engraving is inspired by the sculpture of its time - the classical period - and more particularly by the “Mannerist” and “Rich” styles. The style is characterized by lively movements and positions, as well as the “wet drapery”, composed of numerous folds, very close to the body, revealing its curves and therefore very sensual. At the same time, Athens was at the height of its cultural influence. A decade before our stater was struck, Phidias and his disciple Agoracritos were carving the sculptures of the Parthenon, the religious buildings of the Acropolis and the Temple of Athena-Nike. The style and iconography of the latter's sculptures, particularly the parapet, bear many similarities to the engraving on our reverse die. Our coin can be compared to one of the reliefs in the decorative band on the south side, depicting “Nike fixing her sandal”. In the same way, the Nike on our stater is identical to the “goddess K” on the Parthenon pediment attributed to Agoracritos, both in position and in garment. Terina is a city in Calabria on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Founded by Kroton in the 6th century BC, it was under Syracuse's domination at the time our stater was struck. Beyond the rarity of the dies used and the fact that it is so rarely seen in auctions, our stater is all the rarer for its excellent state of preservation and, above all, its role as a witness to the importance of the exchanges - both human and stylistic - that were taking place in the Greek world at the end of the 5th century BC. Regling 43; Holloway & Jenkins 47; HN Italy 2602; Jameson 479 and BMC 17 var. (Π instead of Φ). Ex Bank Leu, Auktion 25, Zürich, Switzerland, 23 April 1980, lot 45. Faune d'Argent Collection.
TEPI-NAIO-[N]
7.89 gr
Silver
Silver can fall into your pocket but also falls between copper and gold in group 11 of the periodic table. Three metals frequently used to mint coins. There are two good reasons for using silver: it is a precious metal and oxidizes little upon contact with air. Two advantages not to be taken for granted.
Here is thus a metal that won’t vanish into thin air.
It’s chemical symbol Ag is derived from the Latin word for silver (argentum), compare Ancient Greek ἄργυρος (árgyros). Silver has a white, shiny appearance and, to add a little bit of esotericism or polytheism to the mix, is traditionally dedicated to the Moon or the goddess Artemis (Diana to the Romans).
As a precious metal, just like gold, silver is used to mint coins with an intrinsic value, meaning their value is constituted by the material of which they are made. It should be noted that small quantities of other metals are frequently added to silver to make it harder, as it is naturally very malleable (you can’t have everything) and thus wears away rapidly.
The first silver coins probably date back to the end of the 7th century BC and were struck on the Greek island of Aegina. These little beauties can be recognized by the turtle featured on the reverse.
The patina of silver ranges from gray to black.
The millesimal fineness (or alloy) of a coin indicates the exact proportion (in parts per thousand) of silver included in the composition. We thus speak, for example, of 999‰ silver or 999 parts of silver per 1 part of other metals. This measure is important for investment coins such as bullion. In France, it was expressed in carats until 1995.
An “EF(40-45)” quality
As in numismatics it is important that the state of conservation of an item be carefully evaluated before it is offered to a discerning collector with a keen eye.
This initially obscure acronym comprising two words describing the state of conservation is explained clearly here:
Extremely Fine
This means – more prosaically – that the coin has circulated well from hand to hand and pocket to pocket but the impact on its wear remains limited: the coins retains much of its mint luster, sharp detailing and little sign of being circulated. Closer examination with the naked eye reveals minor scratches or nicks.
