These Histiaia, Euboia tetrobols are plentiful... and abundantly faked. Finding them appealing, I've kept an eye out for the right one for my collection and recently bought this one. Before bidding I checked fake reports (gazillions!) and am reasonably sure it is not a fake. I am not sure of the attribution though. Most have a different hairstyle, with the hair at the back of the head in one 'roll' instead of the two seen in mine. The hair decorations are a bit different. The seller's attribution is Sear 2496 but I think that might not be right-- both the hairstyle and the reverse styling are different. So far I've not had any success finding comprehensive online resources (ebooks) to verify the reference, so any help or leads would be appreciated. The one appealed to me because of the graceful obverse portrait. The reverse engraving is not as sophisticated and detailed as many other reverses but it is still charming. EUBOIA, Histiaia. 340-330 BC (is this correct?) tetrobol, 2.3 gm Obv: head of nymph Histiaia right Rev: AIEΩN; nymph seated on stern of galley right; IX (XI?) below Ref: Sear Greek 2496 (?)
It's a lovely coin, TIF. I've had my eye on those as well, but as you say, Fake City! I see a dozen of them for sale on eBay at any given time that look questionable for one reason or another, and I simply don't trust myself to cherrypick an authentic coin from all the forgeries. Now if I found one authenticated by David Sear...
I am away from my books right now so I can't look it up but Sear rarely lists minor differences separately. Users have to decide how close to the exact description in Sear a coin must be before changing the attribution to "Sear 2496 variety". The fact is that an in depth study of these coins might separate out a hundred variations on most of the coins he lists singly but we should not expect any breakdown at all on any but the most popular types. IMHO Sear did a rather good job selecting what to include and what to omit to make his Greek books useful but not ridiculous or so expensive no one would buy them. Look how we on this list advise new collectors to buy the old one volume Sear Roman book rather than the Millennium edition set which is obviously at least five times the number of pages, number of listings and number of dollars. Search acsearch for these and see the recently offered lots (2 with 75 coins, one with 20). I believe you used the word plentiful. If I were interested in these coins as a sub-specialty, I'd get on the good side of Barry Murphy who is a very nice guy, very knowledgeable on most things numismatic and likely to be able to find you some spectacular examples of this coinage (for a price). When they are selling off EF's as large lots, you know there have to be a couple of really special coins out there. Mine is something of a dog at VF but, like yours, I believe it to be genuine.
Great new winner, TIF (oh, and nice coin as well, Doug) => I haven't jumped-in and snagged one of these beauties, yet (again, the ol' fake-potential is a definite red flag) ... congrats on a super new addition!!
Nice one, well centered. My example Histiaia, Euboia 340 - 330 B.C. Silver Tetrobol O: Head of nymph Histiaia right wearing an earring, hair bound in sakkos (sphendone) wreathed with vine R: Nymph seated upon a stern of galley holding a mast with cross-piece (trophy stand), grapes on vine to left; wing on prow; IΣTIAI-EΩN 14mm 2.4g BMC Central Greece p.127, 24-25; Sear 2495 Slightly overstruck. Die break on nose.
I didn't expect this coin to be so little just judging from the detail and the quality. Another to add to the ever growing 'wish list' I think I should begin marking the culprits on who 'inspired' me to spend more money. That way I know who to blame.
