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  [Image]                              Item Sold At Auction #12
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                Web Product ID: 2640
                Estimate: $200.00
                Final Sale Price: $173.80
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                Denomination: Nomos
                Grade: Good Fine toned
                Reference: Williams 543 (O274/R380) corr.; SNG ANS 1405 (same dies)




  Lucania, Velia. Circa 290-275 BC. AR Nomos (7.62 gm). Head of Athena left, wearing
  Attic helmet with griffin and palmette; FI above, IE behind / Lion bringing down stag
  left. Williams 543 (O274/R380) corr.; SNG ANS 1405 (same dies). Toned, good Fine.
  Estimate $200.



  Williams only lists the obverse letters as F, A and IE; however, the letters before
  the helmet crest on this coin clearly are clearly FI. Thus, this coin could be
  transitional, linking Williams' group IX with his group VII, the Philiston group (ca.
  305-290), or, as the coins of Velia were frequently imitated in antiquity, this coin
  could be a contemporary imitation. Further, we cannot rule out the possibility that
  letters could simply be explained as a die engraver's error.