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ancient classic artifacts coins numismatic roman greek

                                 Lot: 5

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            [Image]              CRETE: Cnossus. Ca. 330–300 BC. AR drachm.
    (i.e. Keywords, Catalog
           ID, etc.)             CRETE. Cnossus. Ca. 330–300 BC. AR drachm (5.40 gm). Head of
                                 Hera left, wearing necklace, earring, and stephane
                                 ornamented with palmettes / ?????, labyrinth in form of
      Mail Bid Home Page         square with entrance at top, flanked by letters A—P.
                                 Svoronos 70, pl. vi, 7 (same dies). Traité III, 1548, pl.
                                 ccl, 14. Rare. Lightly rough obverse and reverse struck from
                                 slightly worn die. Toned. Good very fine

                                 Diodorus 5.72 reports a local legend that Zeus and Hera were
                                 married near Cnossus. The city celebrated an annual festival
                                 called the Hieros Gamos (Sacred Marriage) in honor of this
                                 supposed event. The head of Hera on this drachm is copied
                                 from the coinage of Argos, which in turn was inspired by the
                                 chryselephantine statue of Hera by Polyclitus, consecrated
                                 at Argos in 421 BC.

                                 Estimated Value: $ 3,250

 ... sold for high bid of $4000 [ $4600, or approx 3588 EUR, 2392 GBP ] including the 15% buyers fee. 


From the Freeman & Sear Mail Bid Sale 13, Closed August 25th, 2006.

Re-used by permission of Freeman & Sear, www.freemanandsear.com.