Uncertain issues

Staters Obols Hemiobols Bronze coins

Staters

 

X.1
Nagidos, Type X.1
Type X.1
Denomination: AR Stater
Detail
Obverse: Helmeted Athena seated left and wearing chiton, leaning right hand on spear, left arm resting on shield on the ground; in right field, olive tree.
Reverse: Bearded Dionysos dressed in a long robe, standing right, holding bunch of grapes in extended left hand, thyrsos in right; in left field, retrograte [NA]ΓIΔEΩ; in lower right field, horizontal N; in upper right field, epigraphic shape of letter Zeta (𐤆); countermark: bull standing right, shield above, all within incuse rectangle.
References: SNG France 2, 42
Credit: The Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Gallica, Identifier: ark:/12148/btv1b8532858q
Remarks: (1) SNG France 2 describes the style of this coin as barbaric. It is very likely a contemporary imitation. The obverse is found on staters from Tarsos and Mallos, see e.g. SNG France 2, 237 (Tarsos, c. 370 BC) and SNG France 2, 403 (Mallos, c. 350–333). The reverse corresponds to the mirror-inverted Type 2.8. Lederer 1931, p.205 ff. (Group VII), dates these coins to the period c. 363–358 BC.
(2) For another obverse/reverse hybrid combination, see Kelenderis, Type X.1.

 

Obols

 

X.2
Nagidos, Type X.2
Type X.2
Denomination: AR Obol
Detail
Obverse: Helmeted and bearded head of warrior (Ares ?) right; dotted border.
Reverse: Head of Aphrodite right, hair in sphendone, necklace on the neck; dotted border.
References: Roma Numismatics Limited, E-Sale 116 (18 January 2024), Lot 315 (acsearch.info URL); Roma Numismatics Limited, E-Sale 110 (3 August 2023), Lot 520 (acsearch.info URL); Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 553 (3 January 2024), Lot 116 (acsearch.info URL)
Credit: Roma Numismatics Limited (E-Sale 116, see the reference above)
Remark: The depiction of Aphrodite’s head on the reverse corresponds to how Aphrodite was depicted on silver fractions minted in Nagidos, and the absence of the city ethnic is also not unusual on Nagidos silver fractions, see Section Silver fractions. The combination of Aphrodite with the helmeted and bearded head of a warrior (probably Ares) is also found on the Nagidos coins, see Type 2.1. On the other hand, Aphrodite is always on the obverse of the Nagidos coins, while she is apparently on the reverse on all cited specimens of these obols. The assignment of these obols to Nagidos is therefore not entirely certain.

 

X.3
Nagidos, Type X.3
Type X.3
Denomination: AR Obol
Detail
Obverse: Helmeted head of Athena right (?); dotted border.
Reverse: Bearded head of Dionysos right; in right field, NA[…] (the letter N retrograde).
References: Bucephalus Numismatic GmbH, Black Auction 36 (5 April 2024), Lot 357 (acsearch.info URL)
Credit: Bucephalus Numismatic GmbH (see the reference above)
Remark: The obverse is weakly struck, but it seems to be not the head of Aphrodite, but of Athena in a helmet. The retrograde letter N on the reverse is clearly legible, but the second letter can be not only A but also Λ. The third letter is only partially legible and it is not clear whether it is Γ. It may be a new type of Nagidos coin, but it may also be a contemporary imitation. It is probably necessary to analyze other specimens if they appear in a collection or on the market.

 

X.4
Nagidos, Type X.4
Type X.4
Denomination: AR Obol
Detail
Obverse: Baal seated on the throne left, holding lotus-tipped sceptre; linear circle border.
Reverse: Head of Aphrodite to left, wearing stephane, earring and necklace.
References: SNG France 2, 442; several specimens on the market, e.g. Leu Numismatik, Web Auction 9 (7 September 2019), Lot 429 (acsearch.info URL)
Credit: Leu Numismatik (see the reference above)
Remark: This type shows similarity to Type 5.12, but its attribution to Nagidos is uncertain.

 

Hemiobols

 

X.5
Nagidos, Type X.5
Type X.5
Denomination: AR Hemiobol
Detail
Obverse: Bearded head of Dionysos (?) right; linear border.
Reverse: Head of Aphrodite (?) right.
References: Forum Ancient Coins, Fixed Price List (Forum Ancient Coins URL; accessed 7 October 2023)
Credit: Forum Ancient Coins (see the reference above)
Remark: The identification of the deities is uncertain. The linear border does not occur on other Nagidos silver coins, but is present on some bronze coins of Type 8.1d (see e.g. Savoca Coins, 133rd Silver Auction, Lot 109).

 

X.6
Nagidos, Type X.6
Type X.6
Denomination: AR Hemiobol
Detail
Obverse: Sea turtle.
Reverse: Astragalos within incuse square.
References: SNG Levante Supp., 8; Nomos AG, Auction 26 (21 May 2023), Lot 502 (acsearch.info URL); Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 88 (14 September 2011), Lot 437 (acsearch.info URL)
Credit: Nomos AG (see the reference above)
Remark:

SNG Levante Supp. attributes this type to Nagidos. This attribution is uncertain as there are obols with a turtle on the obverse and a male face and the inscription MAP on the reverse which can undoubtedly be attributed to Mallos. See, for example, Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 90 (23 May 2012), Lot 643 (acsearch.info URL).

There are also two other anepigraphic coin types with a turtle on the obverse that are usually attributed to Mallos:

Turtle / forepart of man-headed bull, AR obol. For example, H. D. Rauch GmbH, Auction 96 (10 December 2014), Lot 107 (acsearch.info URL).

Turtle / swan, AR hemiobol. For example, SNG Levante, 168 (the swan mistakenly described as a lotus flower) = Classical Numismatic Group, Mail Bid Sale 66 (19 May 2004), Lot 560 (acsearch.info URL).

 

Bronze coins

 

X.7
Nagidos, Type X.7
Type X.7
Denomination: AE Unit
Detail
Obverse: Head of Pan right; dotted border.
Reverse: Kantharos; above, N.
References: SNG von Aulock, 5761; several specimens on the market, e.g. Numismatik Lanz München, Auction 153 (12 December 2011), Lot 295 (acsearch.info URL)
Credit: Numismatik Lanz München (see the reference above)
Remark: SNG von Aulock, 5761, attributes this type to Nagidos. Nicolet-Pierre 2005, p. 22, mentions this type in his study of bronze coins of Naxos (Cyclades) and notes that this bronze type is difficult to attribute. Auction catalogues generally lean towards Naxos with reference to Nicolet-Pierre 2005, but the place of origin of these coins cannot yet be determined.

 

16 January 2022 – 3 November 2024