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610-546 BC Electrum Lydia third stater |
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ANCIENT - GREEK EMPIRES (6th CENT BC - 5th CENT AD) LYDIA c.610-546 BC |
| Design Description: |
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| Item Description: |
EL Third-Stater Lydia rv bipartite incuse obv lion hd w/radiate sun |
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NGC Ch XF Strike: 5/5 Surface: 4/5 Strike: 5/5 Surface: 4/5 |
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Owner Comments
LYDIAN KINGDOM. Alyattes or Walwet (ca. 610-546 BC). EL third-stater or trite (13mm, 4.72 gm). NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 4/5. Uninscribed, Lydo-Milesian standard. Sardes mint. Head of lion right, mouth open, mane bristling, radiate globule above eye / Two square punches of different size, side by side, with irregular interior surfaces.
Linzalone 1090. Weidauer 86. Boston 1764. SNG von Aulock 2868. SNG Kayhan 1013.
I previously paid about 25% more for a worse example of this coin, and so when this came up I had to try to get it. This one is much more yellow and smooth than the other example I have removed from this collection, which was similarly graded by NGC.
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560-540 BC Electrum Phocaea sixth stater |
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ANCIENT - GREEK CIVIC (7th CENT BC - 1st CENT AD) IONIA, PHOCAEA c.625-522 BC |
| Design Description: |
Head of Aethiopian |
| Item Description: |
EL Hecte Ionia, Phocaea Quadripartite. Bod. Ph24. obv African hd,; seal |
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NGC Ch XF Strike: 5/5 Surface: 2/5 |
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Owner Comments
IONIA, Phokaia. Circa 625/0-522 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.57 g). Head of African left, wearing necklace; to right, seal downward / Rough incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 24. Scratches, scrape on obverse. VF.
This is a rare coin of the ancient city of Phokaia in Ionia (modern Turkey) struck in electrum 560-545 BC. It depicts the head of a sub-Saharan African man facing left with a seal, (the seal is off the coin in this example, unfortunately), the civic badge of Phokaia behind the head.
To the Greeks, Africans were called Aethiopians and they appear regularly in Greek art. The Greeks were well acquainted with sub-Saharan Africans since they appear often in Greek literature as mythical characters and warriors.
Indeed, Africans south of the desert were known in the Greek world as early as the Minoan period. They were often mercenary soldiers – not slaves. There are records of them fighting for the Minoans as well as in the army of Memnon at Troy. Even the Persians hired black mercenary soldiers who appeared in the army of Xerxes in the battle of Marathon (see Frazer, J. G., 1913: Pausanias’ Description of Greece, II. Macmillan, London, p 434; and Graindor, P., 1908: Les Vases au Nègre. Musée Belge, p 29).
This same kind of head appears in incuse on the reverse of a silver half-stater which has only appeared at auction a couple of times, and is of an unknown mint. See NAC52, 177, https://www.flickr.com/photos/antiquitiesproject/4802203901
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550-500 BC Electrum Erythrae sixth stater |
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ANCIENT - GREEK CIVIC (7th CENT BC - 1st CENT AD) IONIA, ERYTHRAE c.550-500 BC |
| Design Description: |
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EL Hecte Ionia, Erythrae rv quadripartite incuse obv Heracles |
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NGC Ch AU Strike: 5/5 Surface: 5/5 |
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Owner Comments
Erythrae was one of the twelve cities to form the Ionian League starting around the middle 7th century BC. It's widely believed, the City States of the Ionic League minted the world's first coinage to effect the efficient flow of commerce. Coinage of the time was struck from Electrum, a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver, and is the first metal used in minting coinage. Early coins had simple obverse designs such as pellets or lines, with an incuse punch reverse. This one-sixth Stater was struck in Erythrae about a century later (550-500 BC) as obverse designs evolved to depict animals and people. In this case, both.
Head of Heracles left, wearing lion-skin headdress / Quadripartite incuse square with one shallow quadrant and one filled. This symbol, thought to represent the sun, was also associated with the goddess Athena, for whom the Erythrae built a temple of worship. SNG von Aulock 1942. SNG Kayhan 737-8.
This is an example of how the "grade" of a coin based on its preservation does not line up with its attractiveness. Here is a link to a MS 5/5 example of the same coin, which I think we can all agree looks far inferior: https://www.moderncoinmart.com/ionia-erythrae-c-550-500-bc-obv-heracles-rv-quadripartite-incuse-ngc-ms-strike-5-5-surface-5-5-sku42277.html
Collector Kohaku has an example of this coin with an incuse swastika on the reverse, instead of the checkers on my coin. https://coins.www.collectors-society.com/wcm/CoinView.aspx?sc=311563.
Abour 50 years after this coin was struck, near 453 BC, Erythrae, refusing to pay tribute, seceded from Athens' Delian League. A garrison and a new government restored the union. It was freed from Persian rule by Alexander in 334, and after his death it supported the diadochos Antigonus I Monophthalmus (one eyed). A free city in the Roman province of Asia, Erythrae was noted for its wine, goats, timber, and millstones, as well as its prophetic sibyls, Herophile and Athenais.
NGC has certified 71 of these in all grades, with 7 in "higher" grades.
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521-478 BC Electrum Lesbos sixth stater |
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ANCIENT - GREEK CIVIC (7th CENT BC - 1st CENT AD) ISL. OF LESBOS, MYTILENE c.521-478 BC |
| Design Description: |
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EL Hecte Isl. Of Lesbos, Mytilene calf hd. l. Bod.My12. obv lion hd. r. rv incuse |
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NGC AU Strike: 5/5 Surface: 5/5 |
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View Coin |
Owner Comments
Obverse: Predator
Reverse: Lunch
Head of roaring lion right / Incuse head of calf left; rectangular punch behind. HGC 6, 937. Bodenstedt 12.
Lesbos is the third-largest island in Greece, but was once connected to present-day Turkey. It is now only barely separated from Turkey by a narrow strait, since the end of the last Ice Age 11,700 years ago. In recent news, Lesbos has become a landing place for many of the migrants seeking entry into the European Union because of its proximity to Turkey. The largest city on the island, and the capital of the present-day Greek political administrative unit, is Myteline. That's where this coin was struck. Aristotle and Epicrus lived on the island for a while during their own lifetimes (after this coin was struck)
The name is from Ancient Greek: Λέσβος Lésbos "forested" or "woody", possibly a Hittite borrowing, as the original Hittite name for the island was Lazpa. An older name for the island that was maintained in Aeolic Greek was Ἴσσα Íssa.
According to later Greek writers, Mytilene was founded in the 11th century BC by the family Penthilidae, who arrived from Thessaly and ruled the city-state until a popular revolt (590–580 BC) led by Pittacus of Mytilene ended their rule. In fact the archaeological and linguistic record may indicate a late Iron Age arrival of Greek settlers although references in Late Bronze Age Hittite archives indicate a likely Greek presence then. The name Mytilene itself seems to be of Hittite origin. According to Homer's Iliad, Lesbos was part of the kingdom of Priam, which was based in Anatolia (present day Turkey). Keep in mind that Priam was the King of Troy during the legendary Trojan War.
We can laugh about how the inhabitants of the island are all Lesbians. They are. But with a capital "L" that just means they are from this island.
NGC has certified 226 of these.
Compared to the earlier coin from Erythrae, this coin has more than just an incuse punch on the reverse. The reverse is still incuse, but now features a detailed lamb's head. The irregular rectangular punch is still there, just squeezed in behind the lamb's head. I have seen other examples of the same issue where the lamb's head is facing right, instead of left. See NGC certification number 4281474-001. I do not know of any significance to this difference.
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454-427 BC Electrum Lesbos sixth stater |
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ANCIENT - GREEK CIVIC (7th CENT BC - 1st CENT AD) ISL. OF LESBOS, MYTILENE c.454-427 BC |
| Design Description: |
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EL Hecte Isl. Of Lesbos, Mytilene bearded male. Bod.My52. obv male head r. |
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NGC AU Strike: 3/5 Surface: 5/5 |
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Owner Comments
The last Lesbian coin had a lion and a lamb on it. This one has two guys.
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477-388 BC Electrum Phocaea sixth stater |
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ANCIENT - GREEK CIVIC (7th CENT BC - 1st CENT AD) IONIA, PHOCAEA c.477-388 BC |
| Design Description: |
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EL Hecte Ionia, Phocaea Quadripartite. Bod. Ph90. obv female hd. |
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NGC Ch AU Strike: 5/5 Surface: 5/5 |
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View Coin |
Owner Comments
IONIA. Phokaia. EL Hekte (2.56 gms), ca. 478-387 B.C. NGC Ch AU★, Strike: 5/5 Surface: 5/5. Fine Style.
NGC lumps all of the "Phocaea. Ca. 477-388 BC" hectes together in its population, although there are almost a dozen or more different types including this one. That population is 284 with 7 in CH AU, 2 in CH AU with a star, and just one in MS.
Bodenstedt-90. Obverse: Young female head left; below, small seal left; Reverse: Quadripartite incuse square. Probably following the Lydians, the Phocaeans were among the earliest in the world to make and use coins as money. Its earliest coins were made of electrum.
High relief and perfectly centered obverse. Just like on the other Phocaea hecte from about 100 years earlier, this coin features an unidentified and apparently regular person.
Ancient Phocaea was highly active in sea exploration and colonization in the earlier part of the millennium. Modern Marsailles in France, Velia in Italy, and Empúries in Spain were all colonies founded by Phocaea. The ancient site is now within Foça in Izmir Province, Turkey.
After the defeat of the Persians under Xerxes I by the Greeks in 480 BC, and the subsequent rise of Athenian power, Phocaea joined the Delian League, paying tribute to Athens of two talents of silver per year. In 412 BC, during the Peloponnesian War, with the help of Sparta, Phocaea rebelled along with the rest of Ionia. The Peace of Antalcidas, which ended the Corinthian War, returned nominal control of Phocaea to Persia in 387 BC. This coin is attributable to some time within this 90 year period after the defeat of Xerxes and before return to Persian rule.
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477-388 BC Electrum Phocaea sixth stater |
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ANCIENT - GREEK CIVIC (7th CENT BC - 1st CENT AD) IONIA, PHOCAEA c.477-388 BC |
| Design Description: |
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EL Hecte Ionia, Phocaea Historical Scholar Coll. Bodenstedt Ph.96 |
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NGC XF Strike: 5/5 Surface: 4/5 |
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Owner Comments
Head of the mythical Io on the obverse, typical punch on the reverse. Nicely centered and engraved.
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477-388 BC Electrum Phocaea sixth stater |
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ANCIENT - GREEK CIVIC (7th CENT BC - 1st CENT AD) IONIA, PHOCAEA c.477-388 BC |
| Design Description: |
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EL Hecte Ionia, Phocaea Historical Scholar Coll. Bodenstedt Phocaea 91 |
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NGC Ch XF Strike: 3/5 Surface: 5/5 |
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Owner Comments
Nicely centered and engraved, just struck on a blob of electrum that wasn't tall enough for the high relief.
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387-326 BC Electrum Phocaea sixth stater |
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ANCIENT - GREEK CIVIC (7th CENT BC - 1st CENT AD) IONIA, PHOCAEA c.387-326 BC |
| Design Description: |
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EL Hecte Ionia, Phocaea Historical Scholar Coll. Bodenstedt Phocaea 111 |
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NGC XF Strike: 5/5 Surface: 5/5 |
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Owner Comments
Among the last of the independent electrum issues of Ionian city states. This could have been struck as late as the time Alexander took over everything. This type closely resembles, or is resembled by, the head of Athena showing up on Alexander's gold staters from about 336 onward.
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485-420 BC "Daric" or "Stater" of the Persian Empire |
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ANCIENT - GREEK EMPIRES (6th CENT BC - 5th CENT AD) ACHAEMENID EMPIRE c.5th Century BC |
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AV Daric Achaemenid Empire spear. rv incuse punch. obv hero-king w/bow & |
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NGC Ch F Strike: 4/5 Surface: 4/5 |
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420-380 BC "Daric" or "Stater" of the Persian Empire |
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ANCIENT - GREEK EMPIRES (6th CENT BC - 5th CENT AD) ACHAEMENID EMPIRE 5th-4th Centuries BC |
| Design Description: |
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AV Daric Achaemenid Empire spear. rv incuse punch. obv hero-king w/bow & |
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NGC AU Strike: 5/5 Surface: 5/5 |
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Owner Comments
The Persians, time of Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II. Sardes, circa 420-375. From the time of the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC) and great stories by guys like Thucydides (History of the Peloponnesian War) and Xenophon (March of the Ten Thousand) and not long after Herodotus (The Histories) himself.
"The secret to happiness is freedom... And the secret to freedom is courage." --Thucydides
Gold helps with freedom too. NGC has certified 435 of these in all conditions.
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400-336 BC "Daric" or "Stater" of the Persian Empire |
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ANCIENT - GREEK EMPIRES (6th CENT BC - 5th CENT AD) ACHAEMENID EMPIRE c.400-336 BC |
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AV Daric Achaemenid Empire rv incuse punch hero-king w/bow & spear |
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NGC Ch VF Strike: 5/5 Surface: 4/5 Strike: 5/5 Surface: 4/5 |
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Owner Comments
This is a later and less common gold daric, or stater, from the Achaemenid Persians, probably from deep inside the 300's B.C.
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350-320 BC Stater of Carthage |
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ANCIENT - GREEK CIVIC (7th CENT BC - 1st CENT AD) ZEUGITANA, CARTHAGE c.350-320 BC |
| Design Description: |
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AV Stater Zeugitana, Carthage rv horse stg. obv Tanit |
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NGC Ch XF Strike: 4/5 Surface: 4/5 Strike: 4/5 Surface: 4/5 |
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Owner Comments
ZEUGITANA. Carthage. Ca. 350-320 BC. AV stater (19mm, 9.15 gm, 1h). NGC Choice XF 4/5 - 4/5. Bust of Tanit left, hair wreathed in barley ears, wearing triple-pendant earring, and necklace with seven pendants; dotted border / Horse standing right on exergual line; three pellets to lower right, dotted border. SNG Copenhagen 129. Jenkins & Lewis 81. MAA 4.
"Elegant in its simplicity of design, the obverse of these early staters depicts Tanit, the highest and most important Carthaginian goddess, and whose Greek equivalent was Persephone. Tanit was the consort of Baal Hammon, the city's chief god. The reverse, depicting the majestic standing horse emphasizes that animal's importance to the city in battle. The overall political message of this type is that the great city of Carthage is protected by both the mightiest of the gods and goddesses and defended by the significant strength of its cavalry." I agree.
Carthage, a Phoenician colony on the coast of North Africa, became a maritime powerhouse in the fifth century BC and challenged the Greek cities of Sicily and Southern Italy for control of the western Mediterranean. By the early third century BC, most of central North Africa, Spain and much of Sicily had fallen under Carthaginian control and mints were established at diverse places to produce coins used to pay the largely mercenary army. The stage was now set for the collision with Rome, newly dominant in Italy. Starting in 265 BC, Carthage and Rome fought three titanic wars that produced more death and destruction than any other conflict before the 20th century. The first gold staters struck by Carthage between 350 and 320 BC were of a nearly pure alloy and weighed more than the ubiquitous gold staters of Philip II and Alexander the Great. As time went on, this coinage was debased with silver and reduced in weight, hence the much more numerous Carthage staters produced after circa 320 BC are now termed 'electrum'. This early stater, in pure gold, shows a delicacy of style that indicates the dies were created by a Greek engraver of consummate skill.
I have wanted one of these for four years, I am glad nobody clicked again after me. NGC has graded 97 of these so far, and this coin was part of a submission to NGC of almost three dozen of these ranging in grade from CH XF to MS, with several of fine style, and none with details grades. There may be a lot of these coming to market in the next year.
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334-331 BC Metapontum |
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ANCIENT - GREEK CIVIC (7th CENT BC - 1st CENT AD) LUCANIA, METAPONTUM c.335-330 BC |
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AV Third-Stater Lucania, Metapontum Molossian. Hera/grain ear Issue under Alexander the |
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NGC VF Strike: 5/5 Surface: 2/5 |
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Owner Comments
LUCANIA. Metapontion. Time of Alexander the Molossian, circa 334-331/0 BC. Tetrobol or Third Stater (Gold, 13 mm, 2.58 g, 10 h), Achaian standard. Head of Hera to right, wearing stephanos ornamented with palmettes and single-pendant earring. Rev. METAΠON Barley ear with leaf to right; above leaf, bird standing right. Johnston G1. HN Italy 1578. SNG ANS 395. Very rare. Minor marks and light scratches, otherwise, very fine. Bent according to NGC.
Pythagoras retired in Metapontum and his house was maintained as a museum to the philosopher until at least the time of Cicero 260 years after this coin was struck.
I only find 16 others of these on ACSearch back to 2001.
As Alexander the Molossian lay dying on an Italian battlefield he was told about one of his cousin Alexander the Great's victories over the Persians. "He fights with women" said the Molossian.
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325-320 BC Stater of Alexander III of Macedon "the Great" |
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ANCIENT - GREEK EMPIRES (6th CENT BC - 5th CENT AD) KINGDOM OF MACEDON Alexander III, 336-323 BC |
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AV Stater Kingdom Of Macedon The Morris Collection lifetime-early posthumous |
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NGC AU Strike: 5/5 Surface: 5/5 |
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Owner Comments
Alexander the Great died in 323 B.C. This is a late lifetime or early posthumous issue of the mint in 'Amphipolis', from about 325-319 B.C. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet pushed back on head, the bowl decorated with coiled serpent / AΛEΞANΔPOY, Nike standing left, wreath in outstretched right hand, stylis cradled on left arm; cantharus in left field. Price 168. Müller 193
Where's Amphipolis? It's up round the bend on the way over to Asia Minor; almost to Macedon, halfway to the Dardanelles.
NGC has certified 1143 of these, of all varieties and conditions.
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