Travels With the Naxos Masterpiece

The Naxos coin is a strong contender to be a numismatic masterpiece. Attributed to the Aetna Master, it is admired for its innovative composition and stunning execution, which marked the transition between archaic and classical styles. It is thought to have been issued in c. 460 BCE to celebrate the Naxians return from exile, just over half a century before the destruction of what had been the first Greek settlement in Sicily. Struck from a single die-pair, desirability and rarity combine to achieve some of the highest hammers when one comes to auction. The Naxos coin only started to be documented from the eighteenth century, and it was only in the mid-nineteenth century that large numbers were found near the site of the city. From there, this most prized of ancient coins travelled across Europe and then America to become part of the world’s great public and private collections. Inevitably, its status and value made it vulnerable to those tempted to break the laws designed to protect cultural heritage. Travels with the Naxos Masterpiece explores the ‘lives’ of these magnificent coins, from their ancient origins in Greek Sicily, through discovery and collection, to sale in the modern market. They continue to be defined by the impact that they have on all who have the privilege to encounter them.