Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XIII 23 March 2017
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Mysia, Lampsakos AV Stater. Circa 394-350 BC. Head of female (Sappho?) left, hair in sakkos, wearing laurel wreath / Forepart of Pegasos flying right within shallow incuse square. Baldwin, Lampsakos -; Leu 20, lot 118; Münzen und Medaillen AG 53, lot 89; CNG 100, 74; otherwise unpublished. 8.44g, 17mm, 11h.
Very Fine. Extremely Rare - one of only four known examples.
It has been suggested that the head on the obverse of this important coin could be that of the lyric poetess Sappho. A native of the island of Lesbos, Sappho is best known for her poems about love. Much of this is now lost and survives in fragmentary form only, but her work was well known and greatly admired through much of antiquity. Today, only around 650 lines of Sappho's poetry still survive, of which just one poem – the "Ode to Aphrodite" – is complete.
Very Fine. Extremely Rare - one of only four known examples.
It has been suggested that the head on the obverse of this important coin could be that of the lyric poetess Sappho. A native of the island of Lesbos, Sappho is best known for her poems about love. Much of this is now lost and survives in fragmentary form only, but her work was well known and greatly admired through much of antiquity. Today, only around 650 lines of Sappho's poetry still survive, of which just one poem – the "Ode to Aphrodite" – is complete.