A new variety from Istros featuring the head and neck of Acheloios Istros as a man-faced bull. This general type was talked about in Potamikon but this one has a complete legend- ISTPIH, which I've never seen before (and consequently a new variety). The section of the bull neck to the left of the face is intermingled with the beard, but it certainly isn't a human neck like on other, presumably later varieties. I can't get over the condition. I think it's one of the finest I've ever seen, with flow lines and everything. Post your finest Greek bronzes.
Man, I'm dying with envy. That has to be one of the prettiest Istros coins I've ever seen. Sadly all I have is this plain boring silver one. No Greek bronzes for me, and certainly no bronzes as cool as yours. A plain old Istros silver Drachm. I wish I had OP's cool Istros bronze.
Cool new score! Man I've got to get one! Here's one of my finest Greek bronzes: Thurium in Lucania. Æ13. 2.65 g, 12h; 270-240 AD. Obv.: Laureate head of Apollo left. Rev.: ΘOYPIΩN, Winged thunderbolt, TH monogram below.
That's a beautiful bronze and a type I myslef have never seen before. But as I type these Greeks are the least amount of ancients I own.
Wow, Nicholas, what a fantastic first acquisition for 2017! The facing head is wonderful and in a remarkable state of preservation. Congrats! The Greek bronze in my collection I find most beautiful was a complete surprise from a mixed lot. It wasn't pictured in the auction photograph of the lot and I did a double take when I received the package and slipped it out of its paper envelope. SICILY, Syracuse Timoleon & the Third Democracy AE Dilitron. 21.31g, 27mm. SICILY, Syracuse, Timoleon and the Third Democracy, circa 336-317 BC. Calciati 80; SNG Cop 725. O: [ΖΕΥΣ ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΟΣ], laureate head of Zeus Eleutherios left. R: [ΣYPAKOΣIΩN], horse prancing left.
What a beautiful coin! Congrats! This is one of my favourite bronze coin (partly due to the pedigree): SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. Æ Hemilitra (17mm, 3.36 g, 4h). Struck circa 405-367 BC. Female head left, hair in ampyx and sphendone, no earrings; leaves behind / Dolphin right; shell below. CNS 24; HGC 2, 1480; Virzi 1466 (this coin). EF, choice green patina, old bump on cheek. Ex David Freedman Collection (Triton V, 15 January 2002), lot 237; Thomas Virzi Collection (Leu 6, 8 May 1973), lot 216.
I'm a big fan of bronze coins so hopefully this thread will keep providing some interesting and beautiful coins. Maybe I have a couple more that need to go up...
