Legendary engraver Kimon's Facing Head of Arethusa has sold with excellent results as part of Baldwin's The New York Sale XXX & XXXI, which was held on January 9-10.

Coins with facing head designs are considered the pinnacle of Greek coin art

The coin is one of the most famous of all Greek coins, as reflected in its final sale price. It sold for $180,000, beating its $100,000 estimate by 80%.

Kimon was one of the two master engravers who produced designs for the mint at Syracuse, the other being Euainetos. This coin, which has been signed on both the obverse and reverse, is considered one of his finest works, representing the pinnacle of Greek coin art.

The tetradrachm's obverse shows the nymph Arethusa, who according to Greek mythology is said to have become a fountain in Syracuse. It was struck circa 405-400 BC, with the reverse showing the traditional quadriga design found on many of Syracuse's coins of the same age.

Another Syracuse coin bearing the head of Arethusa sold for $64,625 on January 8, a 29.5% increase on its $50,000 high estimate.

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The medal was named in honour of Russian field marshall Count Alexander Suvorov (1729-1800)

Highlighting the second day of sales, which focused on Russian coins and medals, was an Order of Suvorov medal of the first class, which also sold for $180,000. Achieving a 44% increase on its $125,000 estimate, the medal is extremely rare, as it was presented to a foreigner.

In a December 30, 2012 auction, a Russian St Anne's Medal was sold for $59,000, setting a new US record for a medal of its kind.