Silver tetradrachm of Sicily engraved by master artist Kimon sets record in Numismatic Ars Classica

Zohar · June 13, 2014 5:31AM

A silver tetradrachm of Syracuse, Sicily, sold May 26 in Zurich established, barely, a new record price for a Greek silver coin at auction. The circa 405 to 400 B.C. coin, engraved by famed die artist Kimon, realized 2,737,000 Swiss francs (about $3,052,750 U.S.), including the 19 percent buyer’s fee. The coin was part of the David Walsh Collection, which composed auction No. 77 by Numismatic Ars Classica.

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JCMhouston · June 13, 2014 5:58AM

That's pretty nice Z, but I wouldn't have gone over $2.5mm, just because of those edge chips.

brg5658 · June 13, 2014 6:34AM

An amazing piece of art and history!

lordmarcovan · June 13, 2014 4:45PM

That's an amazing coin indeed, but I like some of SmEagle1795's pieces just as much if not more.

So, what's the current price record for a non-US coin, across the board- ancients and otherwise?

theboz11 · June 13, 2014 7:53PM

Sweet, but not up my alley. 3.5 million will by a lot of other coins I'd want and have change left over.

NiceCurrency · June 14, 2014 12:25PM

<< <i>That's an amazing coin indeed, but I like some of SmEagle1795's pieces just as much if not more. >>

marcmoish · June 14, 2014 12:32PM

amazing piece - umm are you subtly stating you were the high bidder ?

Zohar · June 14, 2014 12:37PM

<< <i>amazing piece - umm are you subtly stating you were the high bidder ? >>

Wouldn't that be cool? Seriously, SmEagle1795's posts here do not fall short in appeal of the coins shared - I assume the artistic design by Kimon makes this one special yet I am sure there is more

SmEagle1795 · June 15, 2014 3:37PM

<< <i>That's an amazing coin indeed, but I like some of SmEagle1795's pieces just as much if not more.
Wouldn't that be cool? Seriously, SmEagle1795's posts here do not fall short in appeal of the coins shared - I assume the artistic design by Kimon makes this one special yet I am sure there is more >>

Thanks

This coin is indeed very historic - of the finest dies from Kimon and it's said that "in the history of coinage, few works have equaled and non exceeded Kimon's achievement here." I do think it is a wonderful coin (and the plate coin for #7 in Harlan Berk's "100 Greatest Ancient Coins") but I struggle with the $3M price. There are a lot of coins I'd buy before this at that level, especially because there are others available of the same die which are not too far off in quality from this one.

Granted, it's a case of the ultra-rich battling it out when it comes to coins like these. The price doesn't really matter when you can afford a dozen of them.

SmEagle1795 · June 15, 2014 3:39PM

<< <i>So, what's the current price record for a non-US coin, across the board- ancients and otherwise? >>

There are a couple very wealthy buyers who have been acquiring most of the best pieces in the last handful of years, paying strong prices but building stellar collections. A few other notable coins:

$3.25M for this stater from Pantikapaion:

2.3M CHF for this Agrigentum dekadrachm (a relatively cheap price in my eyes):

2M CHF for this sestertius of Hadrian (positioned as the finest sestertius out of all sestertii, hence the astronomical price):

1.3M CHF for this 8 aurei medallion:

These are indeed all very expensive but compared to the top-ranking US coins and the relative youth of US coins in general, I think we have just scratched the surfaces of what prices could be paid for some of these "ultra rarities".

Silver tetradrachm of Sicily engraved by master artist Kimon sets record in Numismatic Ars Classica

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