Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XIV 21 Sep 2017
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Cyclades, Seriphos AR Stater. Thraco-Macedonian standard. Circa 475-460 BC. Frog, as seen from above / Shallow quadripartite incuse square, each quadrant containing a dolphin; uncertain retrograde legend: Σ-E-?-↓ around. Unpublished in the standard references including the die study by K. Sheedy, The Archaic and Early Classical Coinages of the Cyclades", RNS SP 40, 2006, pp. 42-47, 175-177 pls. 4-5. 9.40g, 18mm.
Extremely Fine; edge harshly treated at 7 o'clock on obv. Unique and of great numismatic importance.
From a private Canadian collection.
This previously unpublished coin finally settles once and for all the identification of the frog issues as from the mint of the Cycladic island of Seriphos, with part of the ethnic within three quarters of the reverse four-part incuse square clearly reading Σ-E... Attribution of a single earlier anepigraphic stater to Seriphos was originally argued for by Svoronos in ΒΑΤΑΕΧΟΣ ΣΕΡΙΦΟΣ, JAN 1, 1898, pp. 205-211, on the grounds that this reputedly impoverished island was renowned for its silent frogs (cf. Theophratos fr. 186, Aelian 3.37, Pliny NH 8.227 and the Archilochos text from a Parian monument, cf. Sheedy p. 43, note 294). After the publication of the first frog stater by Svoronos there appeared such a plethora of forgeries created by Constantine Christodoulos that several numismatists considered that only the original stater was genuine.
The weight standard employed for this stater is Thraco-Macedonian (ideally about 9.8g), very close to the silver staters of Thasos, the Pangeion tribal region including 'Lete' and the Greek polis of Abdera. It is to be noted that this weight standard is also found on the Dodecanese island of Astypalaia (cf. BMC Caria p. 59, 1 and HGC 6, 1267). Seriphos is also known to have issued staters on the Aiginetic standard of 12.2g (Sheedy p. 175, 1-15); Milesian standard of 14.1g (Jenkins NC 1955, pp. 139-140); and a drachm on the Attic-Euboic standard of 4.2g (Sheedy p. 177, 1.2). This variety of weight standards is not unexpected, produced by a small island dependent on international trade.
Very little is known from the written sources concerning Seriphos in the archaic period. It was traditionally thought to have been colonised by Aiolians from Thessaly, and later resettled by Ionians from Athens. Seriphos is known to have sent a pentekonter to join the Greek allied fleet at Salamis in 480 BC and contributed two talents to the Delian League in 451/0. In myth, Perseus and his mother Danaë had taken refuge from Argos at Seriphos, and at the request of the king of Seriphos, Polydektes, Perseus killed the Gorgon. Aelian records that on his return to the island with the head of Medusa, Perseus was so exhausted and in need of sleep that Zeus silenced the frogs that kept him awake. "
Extremely Fine; edge harshly treated at 7 o'clock on obv. Unique and of great numismatic importance.
From a private Canadian collection.
This previously unpublished coin finally settles once and for all the identification of the frog issues as from the mint of the Cycladic island of Seriphos, with part of the ethnic within three quarters of the reverse four-part incuse square clearly reading Σ-E... Attribution of a single earlier anepigraphic stater to Seriphos was originally argued for by Svoronos in ΒΑΤΑΕΧΟΣ ΣΕΡΙΦΟΣ, JAN 1, 1898, pp. 205-211, on the grounds that this reputedly impoverished island was renowned for its silent frogs (cf. Theophratos fr. 186, Aelian 3.37, Pliny NH 8.227 and the Archilochos text from a Parian monument, cf. Sheedy p. 43, note 294). After the publication of the first frog stater by Svoronos there appeared such a plethora of forgeries created by Constantine Christodoulos that several numismatists considered that only the original stater was genuine.
The weight standard employed for this stater is Thraco-Macedonian (ideally about 9.8g), very close to the silver staters of Thasos, the Pangeion tribal region including 'Lete' and the Greek polis of Abdera. It is to be noted that this weight standard is also found on the Dodecanese island of Astypalaia (cf. BMC Caria p. 59, 1 and HGC 6, 1267). Seriphos is also known to have issued staters on the Aiginetic standard of 12.2g (Sheedy p. 175, 1-15); Milesian standard of 14.1g (Jenkins NC 1955, pp. 139-140); and a drachm on the Attic-Euboic standard of 4.2g (Sheedy p. 177, 1.2). This variety of weight standards is not unexpected, produced by a small island dependent on international trade.
Very little is known from the written sources concerning Seriphos in the archaic period. It was traditionally thought to have been colonised by Aiolians from Thessaly, and later resettled by Ionians from Athens. Seriphos is known to have sent a pentekonter to join the Greek allied fleet at Salamis in 480 BC and contributed two talents to the Delian League in 451/0. In myth, Perseus and his mother Danaë had taken refuge from Argos at Seriphos, and at the request of the king of Seriphos, Polydektes, Perseus killed the Gorgon. Aelian records that on his return to the island with the head of Medusa, Perseus was so exhausted and in need of sleep that Zeus silenced the frogs that kept him awake. "