Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Triton XXIV 19-20 Jan 2021
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CIMMERIAN BOSPOROS, Pantikapaion. Circa 380-370 BC. AV Stater (19mm, 9.08 g, 1h). Head of Pan left / Griffin standing left, head facing, holding spear in its mouth, left forepaw raised, on grain ear left; Π-A-N around. Anokhin 1001; MacDonald 31; HGC 7, 17; SNG BM Black Sea 855; Gulbenkian 580–1; Jameson 2144 (this coin); Prinkipo 166; Numismatica Genevensis SA 11, lot 2 (same dies; hammer CHF 270,000). A few minor scrapes. EF. Fine style. A remarkable and elegant head of Pan.
Ex Black Sea Collection (Nomos 13, 7 October 2016), lot 149; Guermantes Collection (Leu 86, 5 May 2003), lot 307; Robert Jameson Collection (sold privately Dr. J. Hirsch); Grand Duke Alexander Mikailovitch Collection (sold privately by Spink).
Pantikapaion was founded by Greek colonists from Miletos in the late seventh century BC. Situated on the west side of the Cimmerian Bosporos, in what is now called the Crimea, it achieved great prosperity through its exploitation of the abundant fisheries of the straits and the export of wheat from the Crimea. This wealth is attested by its splendid gold coinage, which commenced in the mid-4th century BC, and by the magnificently furnished rock tombs of its principal citizens in the same period. Later, it was to become a regional capital of the kingdom of Mithradates VI of Pontos (120-63 BC) and later still the seat of the kings of Bosporos (first century BC – fourth century AD). The coinage of Pantikapaion commenced with silver issues in the latter part of the fifth century BC, but it is for its beautiful gold staters that the mint is chiefly noted. They depict the head of the god Pan (a pun on the name of the city) and on the reverse, the griffin that Herodotos describes as being the guardian of the remote sources of gold.
Ex Black Sea Collection (Nomos 13, 7 October 2016), lot 149; Guermantes Collection (Leu 86, 5 May 2003), lot 307; Robert Jameson Collection (sold privately Dr. J. Hirsch); Grand Duke Alexander Mikailovitch Collection (sold privately by Spink).
Pantikapaion was founded by Greek colonists from Miletos in the late seventh century BC. Situated on the west side of the Cimmerian Bosporos, in what is now called the Crimea, it achieved great prosperity through its exploitation of the abundant fisheries of the straits and the export of wheat from the Crimea. This wealth is attested by its splendid gold coinage, which commenced in the mid-4th century BC, and by the magnificently furnished rock tombs of its principal citizens in the same period. Later, it was to become a regional capital of the kingdom of Mithradates VI of Pontos (120-63 BC) and later still the seat of the kings of Bosporos (first century BC – fourth century AD). The coinage of Pantikapaion commenced with silver issues in the latter part of the fifth century BC, but it is for its beautiful gold staters that the mint is chiefly noted. They depict the head of the god Pan (a pun on the name of the city) and on the reverse, the griffin that Herodotos describes as being the guardian of the remote sources of gold.