London sale offers '$2.5m' Greek coins of exceptional quality and rarity

This collection was formed over the last 50 years, and this being auctioned anonymously next month

Morton & Eden, the specialist London coin and medal auctioneers, has announced an important single-owner sale of ancient Greek coins.

The collection will be offered in London on Monday October 24 and is expected to realise a total of £1m-1.5m ($2,452,370).

Being sold anonymously, the collection was formed over the last 50 years. It comprises 168 individual coins covering mainly the archaic and classical periods (6th to 4th centuries BC).

Many significant examples were purchased in the 1960s and 70s which are only now being returned to the market having been previously unavailable to present-day collectors.

The owner of the collection has researched and recorded the provenance of each coin to be offered and details will be incorporated within the fully illustrated sale catalogue.

Highlights in the sale will includea Sicilian tetradrachm (an Ancient Greek silver coin equivalent to four drachmae) of Naxos, circa 460 BC, showing the head of Dionysus, God of Wine, and on the reverse, his companion or silenus, seated drunkenly holding a wine cup to his lips.

The design of this coin has been attributed to the Aitna Master and is considered to be a Greek masterpiece of early classical art.

The example has an unbroken provenance going back to an important auction at Hirsch in Munich in 1907. It is estimated at £100,000-150,000.

Other auction highlights will include a Sicilian tetradrachm of Syracuse, circa 465 BC by the Demareteion Master, formerly in the Gillet (Kunstfreund) collection sold in Zurich in 1974. It carries a £30,000-40,000 estimate.

Given the exceptional quality and rarity of these numismatic specimens, it's more than likely that collectors will raise their bids to match these significant estimates in London, next month.

• Click here to view our current rare coins for sale
• Learn how you can get pleasure and profit from rare coins
• Read all the latest Coins and Banknotes news

Join our readers in over 200 countries around the world - sign up for your free weekly Collectibles Newsletter today or download our free Collectors News app for your iPhone

Recent and related articles...

· Who better than a coin collector to star in this '$82,538' Danish artwork? | 20 August 2011

Art and numismatics rarely collide, but do so in this important work by painter Vilhelm Hammershøi

· $72,000 Gustav I coin leads Julius Hagander Collection at Kuenker auction| 18 August 2011

Gustav's coin has a fitting place as he was known for leading Sweden's finances out of trouble

· One of the great students of Asia's coins and stamps: Tracey Woodward's collection | 17 August 2011

Woodward collected and catalogued Japanese stamps and Chinese coins from an early age

· Coin buyers 'temper their portfolios against tumult of financial markets' | 17 August 2011

A $1.3m coin was among the record sales scored at Heritage Auctions recent Platinum Night sale

· Revealing the '$1m coin most collectors only dream of ever seeing...' | 17 August 2011

One of only two genuine pieces known, this amazing Chinese coin is as mysterious as it is coveted...

www.paulfrasercollectibles.com

Images: Morton & Eden