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Electrum Stater of Great Rarity and Importance
154
Uncertain Mint in Northwest Asia Minor, Electrum Stater (16.56 g), ca. 600-560 BC. Chimaera, with the
body of a lion, the head of a goat rising from its back, and its tail ending in the head of a serpent, moving
left. Rev. Two irregularly divided incuse squares side-by-side, one larger than the other (BMC 41, pl. II, 2
= B.V. Head,
‘Metrological Notees on the Ancient Alectrum Coins struck between the Lelantian Wars and the Accession
of Darius’,
NC 1875, pp. 285-8, pl. X, 9 = Head, A Guide to the Principal Coins of the Greeks, Period I.
A, 18, pl. 1). Several cracks at the edge of the flan, a little evidence of die-rust and a small die-flaw above
the chimarea, attractive red toning. A highly important coin of great numismatic fascination.
Of the greatest
rarity, apparently the second known example, the other residing in the British Museum and this being the better preserved
of the two.
Very Fine.
$50,000
Ex: The New York Sale Auction XXX, January 9, 2013, lot 142.
Although the precise location of mintage of this fascinating coin is uncertain, it seems that it almost certainly originates from
Northwest Asia Minor. It has been struck on the Phokaian standard, which was prevalent in that region in the early 6th Century
BC, encompassing the districts of Teos, Sardes and Kyzikos. As the chimarea appears on the obverse, early suggestions were
made by scholars that it might have originated from Corinth or Sikyon. However, this is extremely unlikely since the style, fab-
ric, and reverse all point to an Asia Minor attribution.
The mythical chimaera, a fire-breathing, monstrous creature with the combinted parts of a lion, goat and serpent, originated
in Lycia, and from there spread across to mainland Greece where it can be seen to manifest itself particularly on the coinage
of Sikyon in the Peloponnese. It is unlikely that this points to the coin having a Lycian origin, because the Phokaian standard,
on which this was struck, would not have been used there. The city of Zeleia, which belonged to the territory of Kyizikos,
has been suggested as a possible attribution, as it is reported to have had a Lycian population which could help to explain the
choice of obverse type. Although the Zeleia attribution is a strong possibility, there is of course no firm evidence to confirm it,
so it is perhaps better to suggest a northwest Asia Minor origin.
155
Lesbos, Mytilene. Electrum Hekte (2.54 g), ca. 521-478 BC. Forepart of winged boar right. Rev. Incuse
head of lion left; rectangular punch behind. Bodenstedt 10; HGC 6, 935.
Very Rare.
Well struck with in-
tricate detail and well centered. Nearly Mint State.
$1,000
From the Dionysus Collection.