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

While the Phillips Family Collection is a phenomenal gathering of 254 gold and silver coins that span the whole of the Ancient Greek World, the coin used to illustrate the catalogue cover is by no means the most prominent lot.

However, its significance in building the collection is such that it proved the most appropriate choice.

As specialist Bradley Hopper explains: “The magnificent Dekadrachm of Carthage (lot 117) has been chosen to illustrate the front cover of the catalogue, not only for its exceptional aesthetic quality but also for sentimental reasons. The coin was given from father to son on Christmas Day 1963; a remarkable gift to find at the bottom of a stocking and one which has inspired a lifelong passion for Greek numismatics.”

Struck ‘in the land’, c.264-60, during the First Punic War, the obverse of the silver coin depicts the head of Tanit/Persephone left, wearing a crown of barley and pendant earring, while the reverse shows Pegasos flying right, with the letters b’rst in Punic characters.

In extremely fine condition, and perfectly centred and of superb style, it carries an estimate of £20,000-26,000.