Sale: Nomos 6, Lot: 74. Estimate CHF1500.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 May 2012.  Sold For CHF1500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ARGOLIS, Kleonai. Circa 490-470 BC. Twelfth Stater (Silver, 1.11 g 4). Forepart of lion to right, with open jaws and extended paw; border of dots. Rev. Crestless Corinthian helmet to right within incuse square. BCD Peloponnesos 1313. Extremely rare, one of only a very few pieces known. Toned and uncleaned as found, nearly extremely fine.

From a European collection, acquired in 2009.

As note above, the weight standard of the early coinage of Kleonai come from the East. It also has a very un-Peloponnesian look and must have taken inspiration from coinages produced in Asia Minor. This coin will immediately remind the viewer of the archaic issues from Lydia.