Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XVI 26 Sep 2018
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Cyprus, Salamis AR Stater. Nikodamos, circa 460-450. Recumbent ram to right, oinochoe above; Cypriot script 'pa-si-le-wo-se ni-ko-ta-mo' around / Head of ram to left, olive branch and elaborate ankh symbol below; Cypriot script 'pa-si ni-ko-ta' around. Bank of Cyprus -; BMC -; Traité II -; Tziambazis -; cf. Masson & Amandry, Notes de numismatique chypriote, VI-VIII in RN 1988, p. 33 and pl. II, 4-5 = Kunstfreund 169 (same obverse die). 11.19g, 23mm, 1h.
Extremely Fine. Apparently unique and unpublished; of great numismatic interest.
From the Dr. Albert Potts collection, outside of Cyprus before December 1992.
The Greek dynasty of Salamis traced its ancestry back to the legendary hero Teukros (Teucer), son of Telamon, king of the Greek island of Salamis in the Saronic Gulf. The first king and founder of the dynasty of Cypriot Salamis whose name appears on the Persian standard double sigloi and fractions is that of Evelthon (560-525 BC). It has long been recognised and confirmed by the Celenderis, Asyut, Lanarca, Zagazig and Jordan hoards, that many if not all of these issues were minted by his successors from c. 515 until the mid 5th century; Herodotus (5.104) lists four successors to Evelthon: Siromos, Chersis, Gorgos and Onesilos, none of whom are confirmed by the numismatic record. Thus it appears that the royal numismatic custom at Salamis was to continue using the types of one's predecessor, with the name of the reigning king of secondary importance to the primary message - that he was of the dynasty of Evelthon. The only other names recorded on coins before the well attested Evagoras I are: Phausis (cf. J. Kagan and K. McGregor 1995: "The Coinage of king Phausis of Salamis", CCEC 23, 3-9, 1995); Nikotamos (cf. BMC 31-32 (Nikodamos) and Evanthes (BMC 38-9) dated to the period 480-450 BC.
The recumbent ram type of the obverse ultimately derives from the type instituted by Evelthon, so continuing the theme which appears to have been retained for dynastic purposes. Significantly, a coin discovered with the name of Nikodamos on the reverse also bears the name of Evelthon on the obverse (Troxell-Spengler 1969, 17). The use of the latter's name in the middle of the fifth century is significant, as it apparently confirms that Nikodamos was descended (or at least claimed descent) from Evelthon. The reverse type of a ram's head may have been an innovation introduced by Nikodamos, which appears to have been retained by his successor Evanthes, and most surprisingly, by the uncertain and possibly Phoenician king 'Maxakosa' who coined an issue survived by a single example (Roma Numismatics XIII, lot 411) circa 450-430 BC.
Nikodamos himself appears to be unknown to history other than from his coins, but he must have reigned at Salamis in the years immediately preceding the expedition of the Athenian fleet under the general Kimon against the Persians on Cyprus in 450 BC.
Extremely Fine. Apparently unique and unpublished; of great numismatic interest.
From the Dr. Albert Potts collection, outside of Cyprus before December 1992.
The Greek dynasty of Salamis traced its ancestry back to the legendary hero Teukros (Teucer), son of Telamon, king of the Greek island of Salamis in the Saronic Gulf. The first king and founder of the dynasty of Cypriot Salamis whose name appears on the Persian standard double sigloi and fractions is that of Evelthon (560-525 BC). It has long been recognised and confirmed by the Celenderis, Asyut, Lanarca, Zagazig and Jordan hoards, that many if not all of these issues were minted by his successors from c. 515 until the mid 5th century; Herodotus (5.104) lists four successors to Evelthon: Siromos, Chersis, Gorgos and Onesilos, none of whom are confirmed by the numismatic record. Thus it appears that the royal numismatic custom at Salamis was to continue using the types of one's predecessor, with the name of the reigning king of secondary importance to the primary message - that he was of the dynasty of Evelthon. The only other names recorded on coins before the well attested Evagoras I are: Phausis (cf. J. Kagan and K. McGregor 1995: "The Coinage of king Phausis of Salamis", CCEC 23, 3-9, 1995); Nikotamos (cf. BMC 31-32 (Nikodamos) and Evanthes (BMC 38-9) dated to the period 480-450 BC.
The recumbent ram type of the obverse ultimately derives from the type instituted by Evelthon, so continuing the theme which appears to have been retained for dynastic purposes. Significantly, a coin discovered with the name of Nikodamos on the reverse also bears the name of Evelthon on the obverse (Troxell-Spengler 1969, 17). The use of the latter's name in the middle of the fifth century is significant, as it apparently confirms that Nikodamos was descended (or at least claimed descent) from Evelthon. The reverse type of a ram's head may have been an innovation introduced by Nikodamos, which appears to have been retained by his successor Evanthes, and most surprisingly, by the uncertain and possibly Phoenician king 'Maxakosa' who coined an issue survived by a single example (Roma Numismatics XIII, lot 411) circa 450-430 BC.
Nikodamos himself appears to be unknown to history other than from his coins, but he must have reigned at Salamis in the years immediately preceding the expedition of the Athenian fleet under the general Kimon against the Persians on Cyprus in 450 BC.