Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3044 3-4 January 2016
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Ancients
MYSIA. Cyzicus. Ca. 550-450 BC. EL 1/12th stater or hemihecte (8mm, 1.34 gm). Forepart of winged stag left, tunny fish swimming left below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 102. Rosen 482. Well-centered and attractive. NGC Choice VF 5/5 - 4/5.Electrum, an alloy of gold and silver, was the first metal to be struck as coined money, apparently starting in the Lydian Kingdom in the mid-seventh century BC. Scholars ancient and modern believed the first coins were struck in a natural electrum alloy found in Lydian stream beds. Recent research has confirmed the metal used for coins was an artificial creation from the outset. Although later augmented by coins in pure gold and silver, electrum continued to be coined extensively in western Asia Minor, likely because soldiers and tradesmen were used to accepting it as payment. Electrum coinage was even revived in the West by Carthage and Syracuse in the later fourth century BC.
Estimate: 1400-1800 USD
MYSIA. Cyzicus. Ca. 550-450 BC. EL 1/12th stater or hemihecte (8mm, 1.34 gm). Forepart of winged stag left, tunny fish swimming left below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 102. Rosen 482. Well-centered and attractive. NGC Choice VF 5/5 - 4/5.Electrum, an alloy of gold and silver, was the first metal to be struck as coined money, apparently starting in the Lydian Kingdom in the mid-seventh century BC. Scholars ancient and modern believed the first coins were struck in a natural electrum alloy found in Lydian stream beds. Recent research has confirmed the metal used for coins was an artificial creation from the outset. Although later augmented by coins in pure gold and silver, electrum continued to be coined extensively in western Asia Minor, likely because soldiers and tradesmen were used to accepting it as payment. Electrum coinage was even revived in the West by Carthage and Syracuse in the later fourth century BC.
Estimate: 1400-1800 USD