The multi-million pound Prospero Collection contains over 600 coins from the Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic Greek periods and includes some of the rarest and most historically important examples of Greek coinage.

Offering a unique window into a world of epic history and a wonderland of Greek mythology, this collection is sure to inspire collectors from all walks of the art and antiques world.

The collection was formed over several decades by a collector with a passion for the arts and a discerning taste for outstanding examples of the most beautiful and famous ancient Greek coins.

A Calabria, Tarentum Gold Stater coin from circa 344-338 BC, featuring Head of Hera Rev. Taras

Like the character of Prospero in Shakespeare's The Tempest, an underlying preoccupation for the magical and mythical can be seen throughout the collection.

It has not been added to in the past 20 years and remains complete and untouched, with many of the coins having pedigrees dating back to collections dispersed in the early 20th century.

"The Prospero Collection is the most important collection of ancient Greek coins to appear on the market in almost a quarter of a century, since the sale of the Nelson Bunker Hunt Collection in New York," said Baldwin's Ancient coin specialist Paul Hill.

"This will, without doubt, be one of the most significant ancient numismatic events of our generation and an opportunity to acquire coins that have not been available for decades".

This Silver Tetradrachm from Kyrenaika, Kyrene (circa 400 BC) bears the likeness of Head of Zeus Ammon, Rev. Silphium. It is described as a coin "of immense power and majesty."

The sale of this spectacular collection promises to be one of the most significant and anticipated numismatic events for many years and will take place on the January 4 2012 at the Waldorf Astoria hotel, New York as part of The New York Sale XXVII-XXVIII.

Said Ian Goldbart, Managing Director of A.H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd and previous Paul Fraser Collectibles interviewee: "We are delighted to have been selected to catalogue, promote and auction the magnificent The Prospero Collection in New York next January.

"I can think of no better way to celebrate A H Baldwin's 140th anniversary, than the auctioning of one of the most important ancient Greek coin collections to come to the market for many years."

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