Sale: Nomos 1, Lot: 80. Estimate CHF500.  Closing Date: Tuesday, 5 May 2009.  Sold For CHF600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ARGOLIS, Argos. Circa 330-270 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.84 g 6). Σ (retrograde) Head of wolf to left Rev. Large Α with Π Ρ to left and right; below, club left; all within incuse square. BCD Peloponnesos 1090. BMC 94. Toned and attractive. About extremely fine.

From the BCD collection, ex Glendining & Co., 21 June 1972, 216.

The beauty of this little wolf’s head explains why the Comte du Chastel, a great connoisseur whose collection is now in Brussels but who seemingly disliked small coins, had one of them. For simplicity of design and gem-like quality, few ancient silver coins are as expressive as this.