Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;ancientnut, post: 2137633, member: 73212&quot;]This interesting and controversial coin being offered on May 20 in NAC Auction 84:</p><p><a href="http://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=1933&amp;category=40015&amp;lot=1681003" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=1933&amp;category=40015&amp;lot=1681003" rel="nofollow">http://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=1933&amp;category=40015&amp;lot=1681003</a> led me to do a little research.</p><p>The small island of Seriphos, in the Cyclades group, lies about 60 miles Southeast of Athens. In antiquity it had a reputation for poverty and insignificance. It was also known for its large population of frogs. In Greek mythology Zeus silenced these frogs as punishment for not letting Perseus sleep upon his return from killing Medusa in her lair.</p><p>The first frog stater of Seriphos was published in 1897 and only a few specimens are known. There is one is the American Numismatic Society collection:</p><p><a href="http://numismatics.org/search/id/1967.152.286" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://numismatics.org/search/id/1967.152.286" rel="nofollow">http://numismatics.org/search/id/1967.152.286</a></p><p>Another example was in the Dewing collection:</p><p><a href="http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/image?img=Perseus:image:1990.26.0131" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/image?img=Perseus:image:1990.26.0131" rel="nofollow">http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/image?img=Perseus:image:1990.26.0131</a></p><p>Searching online, I was able to find only three sales of the type:</p><p>1. Ars Classica, Auction XV, July 2, 1930, Lot 845, price realized not listed:</p><p><a href="http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=66695" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=66695" rel="nofollow">http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=66695</a></p><p>2. Leu Numismatik AG, Auction 81, May 16, 2001, Lot 229, realized $37,827, including buyer’s fee:</p><p><a href="http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=82784" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=82784" rel="nofollow">http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=82784</a></p><p>3. Fritz Rudolf Kunker GmbH, Auction 94, September 27, 2004, Lot 936, realized $52,330, including buyer’s fee:</p><p><a href="http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=188675" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=188675" rel="nofollow">http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=188675</a></p><p>(A copy offered in CGB Auction 47, March 19, 2011, Lot 95 went unsold:</p><p><a href="http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=965769" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=965769" rel="nofollow">http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=965769</a> )</p><p>Perhaps due to its rarity, the type is not listed in David R. Sear’s Greek Coins and Their Values, Volume 1, 1978. Sears lists only three bronze issue for Seriphos: 3141-3143, page 286.</p><p>The controversy apparently began in 2006 with the publication of The Archaic and Early Classical Coinage of the Cyclades, by K.A. Sheedy. In this work the author stated that all known specimens of the frog stater, with the exception of the BMC specimen, might be forgeries.</p><p>Oliver D. Hoover in Volume 6 in The Handbook of Greek Coinage Series includes the issue (682, page 166), but states on page 165: “The publication of the first know frog stater in 1897 led to such a stream of forgeries that at least one scholar [Sheedy] has suggest[ed] that only the original stater is authentic. Because of the open question of authenticity two rarity ratings [R3, R2] have been provided in the catalogue.”</p><p><br /></p><p>Since the NAC offering appears to be the first specimen offered for sale since the publication of Sheedy, it will be interesting to see whether the lot sells and, if so, for what price![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in