Greek Silver & Bronze
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Lot 2645 Greek Silver & Bronze
Estimate $1,200
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,450
LYDIA, Sardes, time of King Croesus or later, (c.550-520 B.C.), silver stater or double siglos, (9.314 grams), obv. confronting foreparts of lion, facing right, and bull facing left, rev. two incuse punches of unequal size, side by side, (S.3419 [£1250], Traite pl.10,7, SNG von Aulock 2873, I. Carradice, Coinage of the Persian Empire BAR Inter. Ser. 343, [1987], Pl.10, 2). Surface porosity, otherwise good fine and very rare.
This coin is normally known as being issued by the Lydian king Croesus. Throughout the ancient world he was known for his legendary wealth, and it is therefore not surprising to find these most ancient of silver coins associated with this king. The lion is the paramount symbol of royality and as such is appropriate for his Lydian kingdom. According to Herodotus, the Lydians were the first to strike gold and silver coins, but the numismatic evidence is not easily compatable with this statement. Carradice study suggests that this coin is unlikely to have been minted in the lifetime of king Croesus, however Sear assigns them to this ruler c.560-546 B.C. The issue sees the introduction of the world's first bimetallic coinage, gold and silver pieces based on a stater of pure metal weighing about 10.8 grams. This was the intial phase of relatively short duration as shortly after the gold was reduced in weight to about 8.00 grams for a stater and the silver siglos replaced the silver stater. This is the second time this company has offered the silver stater or double siglos, this such an historic and important coin from the earliest period of beginnings of coinage in the western world.
Estimate / sale price does not include buyer's premium (currently 22% including GST) which is added to hammer price. All bids are executed on the understanding that the Terms & Conditions of sale have been read and accepted. For information on grading and estimates please refer to the Buying at Auction advice.
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Adjacent lots
Lot 2643
MYSIA, Cyzicus, (480-450 B.C.), silver hemiobol, (0.314 grams), obv. forepart of running boar to left, ...
Estimate $120
Lot 2644
MYSIA, Parion, (c.480 B.C.), silver three-quarter drachm, (2.824 grams), obv. gorgoneion facing, rev. incuse square ...
Estimate $90
Lot 2645 This lot
LYDIA, Sardes, time of King Croesus or later, (c.550-520 B.C.), silver stater or double siglos, ...
Estimate $1,200
Lot 2646
CARIA, uncertain mint, (early 5th century B.C.), silver hemiobol, (0.476 grams), obv. forepart of lion ...
Estimate $150
Lot 2647
CARIA, uncertain mint, (5th century B.C.), silver hemiobol, (0.276 grams), obv. forepart of lion to ...
Estimate $90