The Weber collection; Greek coins ... - Forvm Ancient Coins

INTRODUCTION
Some coins of Magna Graecia which are now incorporated in the National Collection deserve
also especial mention ; one is the exceedingly rare tetradrachm of Himera (n° 1349), of the fifth cen-
tury, with a lovely figure of the nymph of the hot springs of Himera on obverse, and on reverse
Pelops driving the Olympian chariot ; another (1350) of the same mint, represents the same
nymph sacrificing at an altar, with the inscription IOTEP on reverse, and on obverse horseman
leaping from galloping horse. A didrachm of Thurium (881), is one of the finest examples of
fully developed Attic art. Other coins of Croton, Velia, Heracleia, Catana, Leontini, Syracuse,
etc., are no less remarkable for their artistic beauty than for their rarity.
A very rare tetradrachm of Ptolemy I Soter (8213), of Egypt, has the remarkable inscription
TTOAEMAIOY AAEIANAPEION, and appears to have been struck at the newly founded city of
Alexandria.
The coins above mentioned are but very few of the numerous rarities in the Weber collec-
G. F. Hill, keeper of coins in the British Museum,
tion ; they are among those selected by D r
for special mention by the journalists who reported on the Nation's acquisitions from this famous
cabinet. Besides these, there are hundreds of others representing almost every district of the
ancient world in which coins were issued, which the British Museum was able to secure, thus
filling important gaps, especially in the series of Greek Imperial Coins
A superficial look over the Plates will be sufficient to convince any one of the extreme rich-
ness of the Weber collection. To give only one instance, no private collection in the world ;
apart from those of H. I. H. the Grand Duke Alexander of Russia and of M. R. Jameson in Paris,
; and as already men-
could boast of such a fine series of Cyzicene electrum coins (4964-5025)
tioned, some of the Weber Lampsacene staters, had long been considered as priceless gems ; some
of these are now among the chief treasures of the National Collection.
There are however a number of other choice pieces of the Weber Collection which cannot
be passed unnoticed : 141. Quincussis of Rome, Eagle with spread wings; rev. Pegasus flying
to 1. (the eighth known specimen); 308. Cumae, Didrachm {Num. Chron., 1896, PL I, 1);
511. Tarentum, Incuse stater, with Taras riding on dolphin; 512.Tarent.um, Incuse stater with
Apollo Hyakinthios (only seven specimens known; this coin was ceded to M.M. P. Vlasto by Sir
Hermann Weber during his lifetime, 1906; 548. Tarentum, At Stater, Head of Hera; rev.
The Dioscuri on horseback; 553. Tarentum, At Stater, Head of Herakles; rev. Taras in biga;
1025. Croton, Stater, Herakles, seated on rock; rev. Tripod ; 1196. Agrigentum, Tetradrachm,
by Myron ; 1247. Camarina, Tetradrachm, by Exakeslidas; 1269. Catana, Tetradrachm, by
Herakleidas, Head of Apollo three-quarter face to 1., rev. Quadriga, a superb coin; 1330. Gela,
Tetradrachm, Head of young river-god Gelas, rev. Quadriga; 1452. Motya, Tetradrachm,
Head of nymph, rev. Crab; 15 19. Segesta, Tetradrachm, Quadriga, rev. Youthful hunter;
1539. Selinus, Tetradrachm, River-god sacrificing at altar, rev. Quadriga; 161 1. Syracuse,
Decadrachm, by Kimon, first style; 1612. Another with signature K and KIMHN on obv. and
on rev. KIMHN ; 1796. Orrescii, Octadrachm, Herdsman leading two oxen; 1846. Ichnae,
Stater, Warrior restraining prancing horse, rev. wheel; 1847. Bisaltae, Octadrachm, Warrior
standing beside horse (Brit. Mas.) 1897. Olynthus ?, Tetradrachm, Quadriga seen from front
(ascribed by Babelon to the Uncertain of Thrace, Macedon, &. and by D r
.
G. F. Hill to Euboea)
1964-1966. Amphipolis, Tetradrachms, Head of Apollo almost facing; 2169. Demetrius Polior-
cetes, M Stater; 2353. Dicaea, Distater, Head of bearded Herakles; 2365. Abdera (?),
Octadrachm, Griffin seated to 1. ; 2689-90. Panticapaeum, At Staters, Head of bearded Satyr,
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