Nomos 34: The Results

by Alan Walker

What is there to do in Zürich on a Sunday? In the “old days” there was almost nothing, but now there are plenty of things to keep you occupied, including, of course, an exciting auction! And, yes indeed, Nomos Auction 34 was quite an exciting event, with its 131 lots selling for a total of 2,275,000 CHF to numerous floor bidders, to numerous bidders who sent their orders in to us, and to numerous people bidding online from all over the world. The scene was quite something since the auction room was filled with collectors, dealers, the owners, friends and our staff, bidding for collectors on the telephone and online.

But what you are most interested in are the results, right? So here are some that will impress you!

• Lot 2: Remember this lovely 25 Asses from Populonia, which was estimated at 8,000 CHF. It sold for 14,000 CHF!
• Lot 7: This bronze obol from Metapontum is a particular favorite of mine: it is of very fine style, is well-struck and has such a fine patina. We estimated it at 1,250 CHF, which was, perhaps, a little low, but it anyway soared up to 6,000!

Lot 11: Lucania. Poseidonia. Circa 530-500 BC. Stater. A remarkably attractive piece, of the finest Archaic style, struck in high relief, and beautifully toned. Extremely fine. Estimate: 275.000 CHF. Result: 240,000 CHF.

• Lot 11: Even a very expensive coin, and this fabulous stater of Poseidonia, lot 11, with its estimate of 275,000 CHF, is deservedly a very expensive coin, can actually be a “bargain” (!) for its buyer since he managed to purchase it – online – for only (!) 240,000 CHF! This coin’s new owner is overjoyed!!

Lot 19: Sicily. Akragas. Circa 406 BC. Dilitron, under the magistrate Silanos. Rare. A beautiful coin, very sharply struck in high relief. Very minor die flaw on the reverse, otherwise, good extremely fine. Estimate: 6,500 CHF. Result: 28,000 CHF.

• Lot 19: Here is a truly spectacular gold dilitron of Akragas, which once belonged to R. de Castro Maya (it was sold with his collection in 1957). When it came on the market in 1991 it was estimated at up to 15,000 CHF and sold for a total, with all fees, of 20,700 CHF. Now it sold for 28,000 CHF!
• Lot 31: This lovely Type I Dekadrachm of Kimon’s – once in the Hunt Collection – had an estimate of 100,000 CHF. It opened at 130,000 CHF and sold for 150,000 CHF to a floor bidder!
• Lot 46: This coin, a silver hekte from Pantikapaion was once in a Russian museum from which it was sold to C. Gillet at a Swiss auction in 1937. Estimated here for 3,000 CHF, it sold for 8,000 CHF!
• Lot 48: In some cultures raising an open hand toward the viewer is a sign of greeting; conversely, in others, it can be an insult!! We can, however, be sure that here Hera is doubtless feeling protective both toward viewers in general, and, of course, more specifically, toward the buyer who bought this coin for 28,000 CHF (the estimate was 15,000 CHF)!

Lot 62: Macedon. Mende. Circa 510-480 BC. Tetradrachm. Very rare. A superb, beautifully centered, very well-struck and toned coin; of splendid late Archaic style and extremely attractive, very possibly the finest known example. Traces of corrosion and deposits as found, otherwise, about extremely fine. Estimate: 50,000 CHF. Result: 100,000 CHF.

• Lot 62: As many people know, our Mitsos has a very strong relationship with the ancient city of Mende and its coinage – when he was a child his family called him their glykó gaïdouráki – and he spent hours enthusing over this coin! And he was certainly right to do so, especially since he was preceded in his enthusiasm by this coin’s previous owners: Rhousopoulos, Pozzi, Spencer-Churchill, Jameson and Gillet!! Estimated at 50,000 CHF, it deservedly doubled the estimate and sold for 100,000 CHF!
• Lot 89: This is a truly wonderful Athenian New Style drachm, which was bought in the Tradart sale of 1991 for a total, including all commissions, of 6,670 CHF. As is well known, the prices in Tradart tended to be on the supernatural side, but in this case that price was reasonable! We estimated it at 3250 CHF: when we opened it at 3600 CHF, it promptly took off, finally stopping at 11,000 CHF! Everything about this coin is marvelous and outstanding!

Lot 94: Cyclades, Keos. Karthaia. Circa 540-520/15 BC. Stater. Rare. Beautifully toned and struck in high relief. Extremely fine. Estimate: 50,000 CHF. Result: 90,000 CHF.

• Lot 94: Our final coin for today is this rare piece – a stater from Karthaia on the island of Keos – which has a most impressive pedigree: it was owned by the great Greek scholar/dealer Paul Lambros, by the obsessive war-profiteer/collector C. Gillet, and by two noble collectors, the Viscounts Wimbourne and de Sartiges! Maybe that’s why it soared up from an estimate of 50,000 CHF to 90,000 CHF!