Our annual auction held in conjunction with the New York International Numismatic Convention (NYINC) always serves as a showcase for premier ancient and world coins, with our January 2023 sale an exceptional example. The auction’s voluminous offerings will be available for viewing and bidding online at StacksBowers.com in the coming week. One ancient coin stands out as a fabled reliquary from antiquity sought by collectors for centuries. Due to its rather large size for an ancient silver coin (larger than a half dollar and about twice as thick), the Dekadrachm denomination allowed its engraver to create powerful, evocative designs the stretched the limits of what late 5th century B.C. artistry and minting techniques would allow. Chief among the celebrated engravers of the time was the artist Kimon, whose realistic and creative flair made his work celebrated contemporaneously as well as for two-plus millennia that would follow. So proud of his work on some issues, Kimon rather boldly signed his dies and thus, the resulting coins that would be struck from them.
In our January auction, one such signed Kimon Dekadrachm will be offered, bringing with it a deep cabinet tone and exceptional centering, along with a pedigree dating to 1922 as well as a citation in the highly useful and informative die study of the artist published in 1941 by Jongkees. This example is graded by NGC as Extremely Fine and of Fine Style, and with a strike designation of 5/5 and a surface designation of 4/5. It will assuredly top the want list of many a connoisseur, just as it must have in previous auction appearances over the last century. A powerful and iconic specimen with a storied past, this enchanting example will serve as a monumental highlight of the sale.
To view our upcoming auction schedule and future offerings, please visit StacksBowers.com where you can register and participate in this and other forthcoming sales.
We are always seeking coins, medals, and paper money for our future auctions, and are currently accepting submissions for our spring 2023 Hong Kong auction next spring and our August 2023 Global Showcase auction. Additionally, we are accepting submissions for our Collectors Choice Online (CCO) auctions, the next of which will be held in February 2023. If you would like to learn more about consigning, whether a singular item or an entire collection, please contact one of our consignment directors today and we will assist you in achieving the best possible return on your material.
