NEW YORK – For Classical numismatists, the New Year will begin on an exceptional note: the sale of the Lawrence R. Stack Collection of Ancient Greek Coins. To be held January 14, 2008 in New York City, the sale brings together a veritable pantheon of outstanding rarities, marvelous examples of the celator’s art and historic and important pieces.

Formed with a discerning eye, the collection places special emphasis on the gold and silver issues of Magna Graecia and Sicily. Collectors of early issues will find a lovely group of Archaic Staters of Tarentum, Metapontion, Poseidonia, Sybaris, Kaulonia and Kroton. Those who fancy Greek gold will be pleased with the 4th to 3rd Century B.C. issues of Etruria, Tarentum, Metapontion, the Brettii, Akragas and Syracuse. The Sicilian silver, meanwhile, is exceptional featuring pieces by such famous engravers as “the Master of the Leaf,” Herakleidas, Eumenos, Phrygillos and Euainetos.

As for the Titans of Ancient coinage, the collection features signed and unsigned Dekadrachms of Syracuse, including a Demaretion; a Carthagian Dekadrachm; Oktadrachms of the Bisaltai and Abdera and Dodekadrachms of the Derrones.

Other highlights of the collection include a rare Chersonesos Tetradrachm of Miltiades II, an exceptional group of Athenian Wappenmünzen and Archaic owls; rare Boiotian Staters and Fractions; and Arkadian Fractions. Moving to the East, the sale features a high-grade array of Staters from Crete, an extremely rare gold Stater from Pergamon, and a highly-prized early gold Kyrene Stater of King Ptolemy I depicting the deified Alexander. Extensive historical and numismatic notes are given throughout the offering.

Additional consignments of Greek and Roman coins include: a fine tendering of Roman Imperatorial silver, an outstanding group of Roman Imperial bronzes, and a specialized collection of coins of Julian II, the Apostate.

Extensive, full-color catalogs will be available in December on a limited basis by contacting Stack’s, 123 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019, toll-free: 800-566-2580, email: auction@stacks.com.