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Pillar of the Community
United States
2480 Posts |
Picked this up at a recent auction mainly because I liked the simple design and I hadn't seen the type before. Now I'm reading more about it and like virtually all ancient coins, there is quite a bit of interesting history to be learned about this tiny bit of silver.  Phliasia, PhliousAR obol 400-350 BC 11 mm, 0.84 gm Obv: forepart of butting bull left Rev: large Φ surrounded by four pellets Ref: SNG Copenhagen 8-9 Triskeles Sale 9; Oct 2013
ex BCD Collection, not in previous BCD salesFrom a small round paper insert included with the coin, handwritten:PELOPONNESUS, PHLIUS. 0.84 gm From Sotheby's 26-27 May 1976, lot 88, bought for £55 + 10% VAT The Sotheby's catalog clipping for the lot is also in the flip.Excerpts from Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854):Quote:
PHLIUS (Φλιοῦς: Eth. Φλιάσιος, the territory Φλιασία), an independent city in the north-eastern part of Peloponnesus, whose territory was bounded on the N. by Sicyonia, on the W. by Arcadia, on the E. by Cleonae, and on the S. by Argolis. This territory is a small valley about 900 feet above the level of the sea, surrounded by mountains, from which streams flow down on every side, joining the river Asopus in the middle of the plain. The mountain in the southern part of the plain, from which the principal source of the Asopus springs, was called Carneates (Καρνεάτης) in antiquity, now Polýfengo. (Strab. viii. p.382.) The territory of Phlius was celebrated in antiquity for its wine. [Phlius is less than 10 km from Nemea-- TIF]
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Phlius sent 200 soldiers to Thermopylae (Hdt. 7.202), and 1000 to Plataea (9.28). Daring the whole of the Peloponnesian War it remained faithful to Sparta and hostile to Argos. (Thuc. 5.57, seq., 6.105.) [and much more political information--TIF]
... To read more about its history click hereApparently the Nemean region is still an important producer of Greek wine. For more information about the region and its winemaking through history read hereSome currently produced wines from the Cooperative Winery of Nemea feature a similar Phliasian coin on their label   Edited by ThisIsFun
11/08/2013 10:52 pm
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
That is a really neat little coin. You find some interesting stuff. Sear doesn't have this example listed.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4980 Posts |
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Valued Member
384 Posts |
pretty pretty coin......
Were there other coins in the lot?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2480 Posts |
No, this was an individual lot.
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Valued Member
384 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2480 Posts |
Thanks for the coin kudos :)
The simple design is elegant. The phi is nicely rendered and the bull is realistic in proportions and graceful in pose.
I wonder when the P was scratched? Did the graffitist write a Latin P or a Greek Rho? We'll never know.
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Valued Member
384 Posts |
I did notice the P......adds to the character. I am guessing the graffiti is old, but who knows.....unless a telly tubbie had it a few years back..
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Pillar of the Community
United States
582 Posts |
This coin has very nice detail, great pick up TIF.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I would like to know what auction you got it from.
A nice neat little coin, with an interesting history.
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Valued Member
384 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1569 Posts |
Nice, like that one. Looks like it is a very 'touchy feely' piece, the sort that feels really nice in hand.
You will never soar like an eagle if you hang around with turkeys.....
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2480 Posts |
Sel-- from Triskeles, a new-ish online auction house. They sometimes have interesting items and the bidding usually isn't insane (yet...), plus the buyer's fee is only 12% (10% if paying by check or with cash). http://www.triskeles-auctions.com/My only other purchase from them so far was a very nice Elagablus/Priapus, which I cannot show on this forum since Priapus's protuberance is prominently displayed. If that Thasos stater with ithyphallic satyr was censored, this Priapus would get me kicked right out! |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
579 Posts |
Shhhh TIF don't tell them all about Triskeles! We don't need skyrocketing bids! Triskeles is my favourite auction house so far but I think Pecunem is a close second now due to their lightning fast shipping.
Just out of curiosity did you take a look at the lot I won? I don't think I will get them until Tuesday (no post on Rememberance day). I hope it wasn't one of those that you saw my name and didn't bid :(
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2480 Posts |
Whiz-- which auctions? which lots?
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
579 Posts |
The last triskeles the 'three little pigs' as I lovingly will refer to them once they arrive.
I forget the lot number but it was the three boar obverse with lion reverse
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Replies: 50 / Views: 5,798 |
Posted 11/09/2013 12:53 am
