PREVIEW: THE PHILLIPS FAMILY COLLECTION OF ANCIENT GREEK COINS: 25 SEPTEMBER

A phenomenal collection of 254 gold and silver coins that span the whole of the Ancient Greek World – many of which have not been on the market for 80 years – come to auction at Noonans in this sale. It is the first time the collection has been displayed together in public.

“This collection gives a real sense of the Classical world and the best it has to offer from a numismatic perspective,” says Noonans’ Coins specialist Bradley Hopper.

Just as significant is that the sale will directly benefit Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum, as its Director of Art and Archaeology, Dr Alexander Sturgis, explains: “The money generated from the sale will endow the post of the curator of Greek coins at the Heberden Coin Room. This will ensure the long-term future of Greek numismatics at the University of Oxford, where the subject has a long and illustrious tradition.”

The bulk of the Phillips Family Collection was formed during the Second World War between 1941 and 1945. “The coins are perfectly preserved, wonderfully provenanced and come with fantastic toning,” says Bradley Hopper. “One of the strengths of a collection like this is that it gives a real sense of the stylistic variety across the Greek world.”

A silver Dekadrachm signed by the die engraver Euainetos, and struck at Syracuse under the tyrant Dionysios I, c.390-380, is a prime example of the quality of coins in the collection. In good extremely fine condition, it is perfectly centred with lustrous iridescent patination. The obverse shows a charioteer driving a galloping quadriga left, holding a kentron and reins, with a wreath-bearing Nike flying right to crown the driver; a panoply of arms is in exergue. The reverse carries the head of Arethusa left, wearing a crown of barley, a triple-pendant earring and pearled necklace; with four dolphins swimming around. From the Naro Hoard (1925), and the W.H. Woodward Collection, it features in Albert Gallatin’s 1930 work, Syracusan Dekadrachms of the Euainetos type. The estimate is £40,000-50,000.

At the same estimate is another Dekadrachm of Syracuse, this one struck under the tyrant Dionysios I, c.400-395, and a signed work of Kimon. In good very fine condition, the portrait better, it is of superb style and struck in high relief, the grey tone with some light iridescence. The charioteer to the obverse is driving a galloping quadriga left, holding the reins in one hand and urging the horses on with a kentron; the wreath-bearing Nike flies right above to crown the driver. A trace of the signature appears on the exergue line; αθλα and panoply of arms below. The reverse also shows the head of Arethusa left, in this case the hair bound by a signed ampyx [k] and hair net, with a single pendant earring and pearled necklace; four dolphins swimming around, the one below the neck carrying a signature [κιμων].

This coin appears in J.H. Jongkees’ 1967 work, The Kimonian Dekadrachms.

A gold Stater from the city of Pantikapaion, in Thrace, on the eastern shore of the Crimea, was struck c.350-340. A bearded head of Pan left with goat’s ear and unkempt hair, wreathed with wild ivy, appears on the obverse, while the reverse shows a griffin with curved wing stepping left, holding a spear in its mouth, with an ear of corn below. Surrounding it are the letter παν (Pan). Centrally struck from dies of high artistry, excepting a minute mark in the obverse field, it is otherwise in extremely fine condition, and comes with a guide of £40,000-50,000. It is referenced by the German numismatist Kurt Regling.

The Arcadian League of city states, founded in 370, included Megalopolis, and a silver Stater struck there prior to the battle of Mantinea, from the summer of 363 to spring 362, is a signed work of the artist Olympios. The obverse shows the head of Zeus Lykaios left wearing a laurel wreath, while the reverse depicts a youthful Pan reclining left on a rock draped with a lion’s skin and holding a hunter’s stick on his knee. A set of Pan pipes and the signature [ολυμ] appear at the base of rocks, while the AR monogram is located in the left field. The coin is referenced in D. Gerin’s 1986 work, The Staters of the Arcadian League, and it is in almost extremely fine condition, perfectly centred in high relief, and with a beautiful dark patina – another recognised masterpiece of classical die sinking. The estimate is also £40,000-50,000.

According to Bradley Hopper, one of the most evocative coins in the collection is the c.425-400 silver Stater struck at Knossos in Crete. These coins are very rare and this example is one of the best preserved in private hands. It is especially evocative because of its provenance, having been owned by the celebrated archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans during the period when he was at Knossos, when he found the Labyrinth, which is depicted in stylised form on the back of the coin. The obverse depicts the Minotaur running left. It, too, is estimated at £40,000-50,000.

The ancient city of Lampsakos on the eastern side of the Hellespont produced an exceptional gold Stater, struck c.350. The obverse carries the head of Zeus left, wearing a laurel wreath, and with a lotus-tipped sceptre over his far shoulder. The reverse shows the forepart of Pegasos right, with curved wings.

In extremely fine condition and perfectly centred, the portrait is delicately modelled in the finest style and struck in high relief. A superb coin with a distinguished pedigree, it carries hopes of £30,000-40,000.

An important aspect of the collection and when it was formed is that it preserves several older collections. It includes, for instance, a parcel of coins from Sir Ronald Storrs (1881-1955), the Near Eastern expert, military and civil governor, who played a pivotal role in encouraging the Arab Revolt in the First World War, during which T.E. Lawrence rose to prominence.

The Storrs holdings here are very rare and sculptural, and struck in very high relief, and they are also fabulously preserved. “They stand at the real high point of the collection,” says Bradley Hopper.

An example of these is a posthumously struck silver tetradrachm of Alexander II, King of Macedonia, struck under Ptolemy at Memphis, Egypt, c.323-2 and from the Demanhur Hoard (1905). The obverse depicts the head of a youthful Herakles right, wearing his lion’s scalp headdress, with paws tied below the chin. The reverse shows Zeus seated left on an ornate stool, holding an eagle and plain sceptre; the head of Amun-Ra appears in the field, monogram. In good extremely fine condition and struck in remarkably high relief with rich toning over exceptional surfaces, it has a guide of £6,000-8,000.

“At their very best, Greek coins capture the spirit of the classical age; they’re sculptural, and they’re tactile,” says Bradley Hopper.

Numerous further highlights recommend this collection, and more will appear in future newsletters prior to the sale, for which viewing will be available in person at Noonan’s Mayfair rooms.