GENEVE, Switzerland,
Nov. 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- On
Monday 14 December, a series of rare, ancient Greek coins dating
back as far as the 6th century B.C. will be offered for auction at
the Beau-Rivage Hotel, Geneva by
Numismatica Genevensis, one of the leading rare coin companies in
the world. Featuring 75 lots of notable provenance with estimates
ranging from CHF3'000 to CHF200'000 the sale marks the continued
rise of numismatics within the art world and presents a wonderful
opportunity for serious collectors to choose from an impressive
array of extremely rare and artistically stunning coinage from the
joint collection of the noted art collectors Baron Lorne Thyssen-Bornemisza and Dr. Thomas S. Kaplan.
"This is not only one of the most spectacular collections of
ancient Greek coins offered to the public in recent times, but a
celebration of a life-long friendship between two young men from
completely different worlds: Lorne, the scion of the German Thyssen
dynasty and a benefactor to the study of Classics and Tom, who
hails from a prosperous Jewish family, supporter of conservation,
medical and community causes.
"Both collectors were already attracted to coins 35 years ago
when they met in the Swiss school Le
Rosey," Dr. Baron added. "Their passion for art gave birth
to the idea of forming a joint collection of exquisite Greek coins.
This sale is about the message of perfection they deliver."
With record sales prices for rare coins being achieved at
auctions in the U.S. and Europe in
recent years, numismatics has moved far beyond that of the casual
hobbyist. Coin collecting is today an investment area and a
market for serious art collectors, with people paying millions for
coins. Rare coins, especially of the ancient Greeks such as those
included in the Thyssen-Bornemisza/Kaplan joint collection, truly
reflect the art of the time period just as statues and architecture
that have long been lost to history.
Among the featured pieces is Lot 30, a brilliant and
artistically stunning 9.19g gold coin dating to the 4th
century B.C. The coin, which originated in ancient city of Tauric
Chersonese in the Black Sea region (called Pantikapaion by the
Greeks), features on one side the elaborately detailed head of a
satyr with a pointed beard, a goat's ear and a pug nose, wearing an
ivy wreath. On the other side is a horned griffin—the mythological
guardian of the goldmines. The starting price on this remarkable
work of art is CHF200'000.
The first, simple coins were struck in AsiaMinor (Modern
Turkey), around 600 BC. Around 560 B.C.Croesus, the King of Lydia,
was the first to strike both silver and gold coins, with elaborate
design-work. Almost immediately, coins became demonstrations
of a culture's power and the objects of sophisticated collectors.
Cities invited the best artists of the time to design the
dies that were made to strike their official coins. Greek artists
created some of the most artistically breathtaking coins in
history; so nice that some Roman emperors started collecting them.
The "hobby of kings" was subsequently adopted by some of the
greatest personalities in history, including French King Louis XIV
and the early American President Thomas
Jefferson.
"A coin is perhaps the most complete witness to history of all
art forms. These pieces have in fact travelled through history to
reach us. No other field of art allows one to hold history in your
hands, to reflect upon it, and to transport the holder to the very
people and places they depict."
The proceeds of this sale will be donated to the Recanati-Kaplan
Fondation and The Cogito Foundation. The Recanati-Kaplan Foundation
supports the environment, education, medical research and community
causes. The Cogito Foundation endows scholarships to Eton College and UK universities for
exceptionally gifted Arab children from disadvantaged
backgrounds.
About the Auction:
- Masterpieces of Greek coinageMonday 14 December 2015, 3:00
PM (Central Europe Time): lots 1 to 75
- ON VIEW
- In our offices, by appointment only: until Friday 11 December 2015. Address:
NUMISMATICA GENEVENSIS
SA
Rond-point de Plainpalais 1
CH 1205 Geneva
Switzerland
- Beau-Rivage Hotel, Geneva:Sunday 13 December from 10am to 6pm
Monday, 14 December from 9am to
2.30pm
BEAU-RIVAGE HOTEL, GENEVA
Quai du Mont-Blanc 13 /
Geneva / Switzerland
Catalogue can be viewed on the Numismatica Genevensis
website.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/december-14-auction-of-baron-lorne-thyssen-bornemisza-and-dr-thomas-s-kaplans-joint-collection-of-masterpieces-of-greek-coinage-300185047.html
SOURCE Numismatica Genevensis