Tassie Coin Impression  MyI no 723

Purchased May 6, 2022.

Purchased From:  Online shop of Timothy Medhurst.  Original listing no longer available online. 

Description:   An Early 19th Century Grand Tour Wax Coin Impression Of An Ancient Greek Stater Of Nagidos, c.400-384 B.C. A City In Asia Minor And A Colony Of Samos.

5.2cm wide overall.

Obverse: Dionysos standing, holding grape bunch on vine in his right hand and thyrsos in his left. Reverse: Aphrodite seated left, holding patere over altar, Eros standing behind.

The wax Impression laid to resin within its original card slip, numbered in ink “274”.

There is some minor wear to the card as expected with age, the wax in very nice condition with no damage or restoration. The Stater used for the impression pierced. An attractive and very decorative piece.  Medhurst original images shown below.

From Catalogue of Greek coins in the Hunterian collection

MyI No. 723 shown below on left;  Image from Catalogue shown on right.    Tassie coin impressions were primarily taken from the collection of Dr. William Hunter, the originator of the Hunterian Collection.

Catalogue of Greek coins in the Hunterian collection, Vol II, University of Glasgow
by Hunterian Museum (University of Glasgow); MacDonald, George, 1862-1940

Publication date 1899
Topics Coins, Greek
Publisher Glasgow, J. Maclehose and Sons

Text p 540, pdf 556/734; Image Plate LIX no. 19

v. 1. Italy, Sicily, Macedon, Trace, and Thessaly.–v. 2. North western Greece, Central Greece, Southern Greece, and Asia Minor.–v. 3. Further Asia, Northern Africa, Western Europe

“Aphrodite, draped, seated l. on throne with back, her feet resting on a footstool ; she holds patera in extended r., while with l. arm she supports tall, naked Eros, winged, who stands beside her l. ; border of dots.”

“NATIA (behind, downwards) Bearded Dionysos, wearing himation, which leaves his r. shoulder and the upper part of his body bai*e, standing l. ; he leans with l. on thyrsos, and holds in r. vine-branch with leaves, tendrils, and two bunches of grapes.”

“inscr. reads downwards.”

“(No. 1 is piersed.)”

“[PLATE LIX. 19.]”

Also about this coin and the Hunterian Collection — 2022 07 21 From: Dr. Combe’s “Nummorum Veterura Populorum et Urbium, qui in Museo Gulielmi Hunter asservantur, Descripto Figurie illustrate.” Lond. 1782. (‘The Ancient Coins of People and Cities, which are stored in the Museum of William Hunter, illustrated with a copy of the coins.’) 

Text p 209 pdf 227 of 522 Image Tab 39 7. This was the listing of the Greek city coins in the collection of Dr. Hunter. Dr. Combe had been left in charge of the collection after the death of Dr. Hunter in 1783

[MyI: The following excerpt of an article about Dr. Combe which appeared in 1817 in The Gentlemen’s magazine: and Historical Chronicle after his death. It praised his noted work from which the above description and image of the coin was taken. Dr. Combe was apparently not as well versed in mythology as Mr. MacDonald, the author of the 1899 catalogue of the Hunterian Greek city coins.]

“The next Medallic work which appeared from the pen of Dr. C, was a description of the coins of Greek Cities in Dr. Hunter’s caibinet, which was published with the following title, in the year 1782: ‘ Nummorum Veterura Populorum et Urbium, qui in Museo Gulielmi Hunter asservantur, Descripto Figurie illustrate. Lond. 1782.’ 4to. (‘The Ancient Coins of People and Cities, which are stored in the Museum of William Hunter, illustrated with a copy of the coins.’) This last mentioned volume, which contains no less than 65 plates of inedited coins, served to confirm the celebrity which Dr.,C. had acquired as a Medallist, and to place his name very high in the list of those who had prosecuted the study of medals as a Science. Notwithstanding the present highly improved state of our knowledge on the subject of Greek Coins, Dr. Combe’s Catalogue of the Hunterian Medals still continues to be regarded as a work of eminent utility, and of the highest authority.”