Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 114 13-14 May 2020
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
IONIA, Ephesos. Circa 133-88 BC. AV Stater (20mm, 8.48 g, 12h). Draped bust of Artemis right, hair drawn together and tied in the back, wearing stephanos, single-pendant earring, and double linear necklace with eleven pendants, bow and quiver over shoulder / Cult statue of Artemis of Ephesos facing, arms outstretched horizontally at sides, fillet hanging from each; E-Φ flanking its head; to inner left, stag standing left; bee to inner right. Head p. 69, 2; otherwise unpublished . A few minor edge marks, slightly wavy. Good VF. Extremely rare, only one example published (Head, in Berlin).
From the Jonathan P. Rosen Collection. Ex Roma XIII (23 March 2017), lot 231 (hammer £22,000).
Interestingly, there are three other varieties that have the stag and bee symbols in this position on the reverse. One has a date in the left field of the reverse (year 9), while another lacks the ethnic (both in the Gulbenkian Museum; see M. C. Hipólito, Monedas gregas antigas: oro [Lisbon, 1996], nos. 136–7). The third variety, ostensibly the latest, has the full ethnic of Ephesos across the field, rather than just the first two letters (see Jenkins, Hellenistic, pl. A, 1). A subvariety is known with a star added to the upper left field (see, e.g., MMAG 66, lot 243. The present variety has the most refined style of these issues, and the bust of Artemis more closely resembles the depiction of the goddess on the third century silver issues of the city. While this does not suggest redating the present coin earlier than the traditional 188 BC, it does suggest that it is likely the earliest of the four varieties described above. Interestingly, there is a subvariety of this variety, with the stag seated (see MMAG FPL 297, no. 12), but the style of that coin is much later.
From the Jonathan P. Rosen Collection. Ex Roma XIII (23 March 2017), lot 231 (hammer £22,000).
Interestingly, there are three other varieties that have the stag and bee symbols in this position on the reverse. One has a date in the left field of the reverse (year 9), while another lacks the ethnic (both in the Gulbenkian Museum; see M. C. Hipólito, Monedas gregas antigas: oro [Lisbon, 1996], nos. 136–7). The third variety, ostensibly the latest, has the full ethnic of Ephesos across the field, rather than just the first two letters (see Jenkins, Hellenistic, pl. A, 1). A subvariety is known with a star added to the upper left field (see, e.g., MMAG 66, lot 243. The present variety has the most refined style of these issues, and the bust of Artemis more closely resembles the depiction of the goddess on the third century silver issues of the city. While this does not suggest redating the present coin earlier than the traditional 188 BC, it does suggest that it is likely the earliest of the four varieties described above. Interestingly, there is a subvariety of this variety, with the stag seated (see MMAG FPL 297, no. 12), but the style of that coin is much later.