Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 106 9-10 May 2018
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Cyprus, Uncertain mint. Siglos circa 480 BC, AR 10.79 g. Lion crouching r. Rev. Bull standing l.; within incuse square. Traité II –, 1355 var., pl. CXXXVI, 8 var. (Golgi). BMC p. xlv, pl. XXV, 9 var. (Golgi) and p. 69, 2, pl. XIII, 6 var. (uncertain mint). Tziambazis –. SNG Copenhagen –, cf. for type 65 (Soli or Golgi).
An apparently unrecorded variety of an extremely rare type. Wonderful old
cabinet tone, area of weakness on obverse, otherwise good very fine
Ex Hess-Leu sale 28, 1965, 260.
This unpublished issue belongs to a group of staters formerly attributed to the obscure Cypriot city of Golgi on the basis of the Cypriot syllabic character ko or an epichoric gamma?) that normally appears in the exergue. This coin, however, is unique in its lack any clear inscription and the slight differences of the poses of the lion and bull. Here the lion seems to be preparing to leap at his unseen prey, whereas on other staters formerly attributed to Golgi it is crouching. Likewise, here the bull prepares to charge, one foreleg raised and head lowered, but on coins previously given to Golgi, the bull sometimes has its head lowered, but both forelegs touch the ground in parallel. This is a remarkable new variant from a rare and uncertain mint. Golgi was founded by Greek colonists from Sicyon under the leadership of a certain Golgos. Little is known of the city's history, but it was known for an ancient cult of Aphrodite Golgia that was thought by Pausanias to be older than even that of Aphrodite at Paphos.
An apparently unrecorded variety of an extremely rare type. Wonderful old
cabinet tone, area of weakness on obverse, otherwise good very fine
Ex Hess-Leu sale 28, 1965, 260.
This unpublished issue belongs to a group of staters formerly attributed to the obscure Cypriot city of Golgi on the basis of the Cypriot syllabic character ko or an epichoric gamma?) that normally appears in the exergue. This coin, however, is unique in its lack any clear inscription and the slight differences of the poses of the lion and bull. Here the lion seems to be preparing to leap at his unseen prey, whereas on other staters formerly attributed to Golgi it is crouching. Likewise, here the bull prepares to charge, one foreleg raised and head lowered, but on coins previously given to Golgi, the bull sometimes has its head lowered, but both forelegs touch the ground in parallel. This is a remarkable new variant from a rare and uncertain mint. Golgi was founded by Greek colonists from Sicyon under the leadership of a certain Golgos. Little is known of the city's history, but it was known for an ancient cult of Aphrodite Golgia that was thought by Pausanias to be older than even that of Aphrodite at Paphos.