PAPHLAGONIA. Kromna. Circa 360-330 BC. Tetrobol (Silver, 13 mm, 3.57 g, 12 h), Persic standard. Laureate head of Zeus to left. Rev. ΚΡΩΜΝ[Α] Head of Hera to left, wearing turreted stephane adorned with palmette and scrolls, triple pendant earring and pearl necklace; above, aphlaston; in field to left and right, Γ - Θ. HGC 7, 369. RG -. SNG Ashmolean 216 (same obverse die). SNG BM Black Sea 1325. SNG Paris -. SNG von Aulock -. A remarkably attractive piece of exceptionally fine style, beautifully toned and struck in high relief. Good extremely fine.

John Richard Brinsley Norton, 5th Baron Grantley, FSA, FRNS (1 October 1855-5 August 1943), spent over five decades assembling one of Britain’s most significant collections of ancient, medieval, and modern coins. A wealthy bon vivant with a well-known fondness for women, he was embroiled in multiple divorce proceedings. One such case ultimately led to the sale of his vast collection. When Lord Grantley passed away in August 1943 at the age of 87, he had only recently finalized another divorce and was already preparing for a new marriage. To settle his debts and fulfill a £10,000 bequest to his fiancée, the collection was hurriedly auctioned at Glendining by his son. Leonard Forrer compiled eleven unillustrated catalogs in great haste, and the often magnificent coins - regardless of their individual value - were largely sold in group lots. This turned out to be a windfall for British dealers: not only did the group lots contain exceptional pieces, such as our magnificent drachm from Kromna, but the ongoing Second World War also meant there was no competition from continental buyers (see Grierson & Blackburn, Medieval European Coinage I, p. 396)