Numismatica Ars Classica Zurich

Auction 88  –  8 October 2015

Numismatica Ars Classica Zurich, Auction 88

Greek, Roman & Byzantine Coins

Th, 08.10.2015, from 4:30 PM CEST
The auction is closed.

Description

Greek Coins
Islands of Ionia, Chios
Stater circa 500, EL 14.05 g. Sphinx seated r., wearing round earring and stephane , raising l. foreleg. A spiral tendril extends from head. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. Baldwin, AJN 48, pl. 1, 9 (this coin). Baldwin, Lampsakos, pl. 2, 6 (this coin). Jameson 1520a (this coin). Mavrogordato, NC 1915, p. 50, 23 and pl. 2, 10 (this coin). Rosen –. Houghton, Archaic Coins (Malibu, 1983), p. 21, 15 and pl. 22 (this coin). Rosen 605 (this coin).
Of the highest rarity, only four specimens known of which this is by far the finest and the
only one in private hands. A coin of great importance and fascination and of superb
Archaic style. Struck on a very broad flan and complete, extremely fine Ex Hirsch XXIX, 1910, Lambros, 701; Leu-M&M 28 May 1974, Kunstfreund, 3; NFA XVIII, 1987, 196 and NFA XXVII, 1991, 59 sales.
Most of the rare electrum staters of Chios bear a square reverse punch that is narrow and deep, with very little (if any) trace of internal division of the surface. This piece is distinct from the aforementioned group with its rough quadripartite of the mill sail pattern. Indeed, the features of its reverse allow it to be incorporated into Kraay’s proposed scenario for a group of electrum staters that he attributes to the ‘Ionian Revolt’ against Persia at the dawn of the 5th Century B.C.

Kraay writes: ”The final manifestation of electrum coinage in Ionia proper was a series of staters of the Lydo-Milesian standard, bearing some ten different obverse types, which have been plausibly associated with the Ionian Revolt, 500-494 BC, though decisive proof of the connection is still lacking; uniformity of style and fabric has suggested that all are products of a single mint.” He suggests that issues can be attributed to Chios, Lampsacus, Samos, Abydus, Cyme, Clazomenae, Dardanus and Priene based upon distinctive obverse types, but acknowledges ”...the most puzzling feature, if the proposed historical context is correct, is the total absence of any type that could be attributed to Miletus, the centre and leader of the revolt. One solution would be to regard Miletus as the mint of the whole series, the types being either the devices of the states which had contributed bullion to the general cause, or the control-marks selected by successive Milesian officials in charge of minting. We have seen that variety of type had long been characteristic of many electrum issues, and is therefore a feature that would be likely to be preserved in a revival of a traditional kind of coinage in a moment of national crisis”.

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Price realized 70'000 CHF
Starting price 60'000 CHF
Estimate 75'000 CHF
The auction is closed.
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