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A modern fake of a silver tetrobol of Histiaia in Euboia showing the nymph Histiaia Coin Type: Fake silver tetrobol of Histiaia in Euboia, 196-146 BCE
Mint and Date: Histiaia, 196-146 BCE
Size and Weight: 8mm x 7mm, 1.9g
Obverse: Head of nymph Histiaia right wearing wreath formed of bunches of grapes.
Reverse: (IΣTI) AIEΩN
Nymph Histiaia seated right on stern of galley ornamented with wing, holding naval standard.
Ref: GCV 2495; BMC 128
Provenance: history321 (eBay), January 2003
BW Ref: 001 026 019
Click on the picture for a larger scale view of the coin

Note: This coin is certainly a fake. Barry Murphy says: "These fakes first hit the market weeks after the 1999 New York hoard of Apollonia Ponticas. They were manufactured by the same people. Like the Apollonias, these were returned to the source but have been coming out through other channels. Some are being corroded to make them look older, but the styles are very distinct.

Please note the style of the obverse with the flowing hair, pointing upwards, and the large pellets making up the flowers. This hair style is not found on authentic examples. Also notice the rather poorly executed reverse. On these forgeries AIEWN is always behind the nymph, although this does exist on authentic examples as well. ISTI is always before the nymph's feet. All have the wing on the prow, some very poorly executed and none have any symbols below the prow."

Barry says "flowers," but these are probably supposed to be grapes.


The content of this page was last updated on 13 January 2008