Lot 19: Sicily, Entella. Campanian Mercenaries. Ca. 316/10-300/290 B.C. Æ litra.

Sicily, Entella. Campanian Mercenaries. Ca. 316/10-300/290 B.C. Æ litra (20 mm, 6.48 g, 6 h). [Κ]Α[ΜΠΑΝΩΝ], head of Persephone right, wreathed with grain ears / K-A[-M-ΠANΩN], Pegasos flying left; below, Corinthian helmet left. CNS -; SNG ANS (part 3) -; SNG ANS (part 5) -; HGC 2, -. Very rare and possibly unpublished. Green patina. Extremely fine.

The common type for this issue has the obverse legend ENTEΛΛAΣ (CNS 4). This variety with the obverse legend ΚΑΜΠΑΝΩΝ is not noted in either Calciati or SNG ANS, nor did Hoover record it in his recently published handbook on Sicilian coins. Another example with a complete obverse legend and struck from the same dies was recently offered in Roma E20 (29 August 2015), 51, but was misidentified as the more common CNS 4 variety.

One further note merely mentioned here as a public service announcement, the common CNS 4 issue that is frequently offered at auction and that brings very strong prices is more often than not a modern forgery. A quick comparison of the several examples found on internet search engines (and having been sold by the major auction houses) will clearly show that most are technically sophisticated cast copies of an original, all with convincing patinas. The original may have been the David Freedman specimen sold in Triton V, 151 (also ex Sternberg XX,198) or, less possibly, in NAC 13, 277 (also ex Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig, 277). Caveat emptor!

• Offered By: Barry P. Murphy
• Lot #: 19
• Listing #: 195766
• Closed: Tuesday, December 13, 2016 4:09:00 PM CT
• Estimate: $200