Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 124 23 Jun 2021
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Lampsacus.
Stater circa 350, AV 8.42g. Head l. of bearded Pan, wearing a stephane and with goat's horns on his forehead; a lagobolon at his r. shoulder. Rev. Forepart of Pegasus r. Baldwin, The Gold Staters of Lampsakos, AJN 53, 1924, 31 and pl. III, 12. Baldwin, The Gold Coinage of Lampsakos, JIAN 5, 29 and pl. 3, 12. Regling, Prinkipo, 162-163 (these dies). Boston 1596 (these dies).
Exceedingly rare, apparently only the fourth specimen known. A portrait of superb style in
the finest style of the period. Area of weakness on reverse, otherwise good very fine
Ex Leu 52, 1991, 88 and New York XXVII, 2012, 469 sales.
The staters of Lampsacus are among the most appealing of all ancient gold coinages; not only is their artistry of a very high standard, but there is a considerable variety in obverse types, all of which are paired with the standard reverse depicting the forepart of a winged horse. This particular coin, struck at the end of the Classical period, bears the head of Zeus, the supreme deity of the Greeks. In her masterful study of 1924, Brett documents 41 issues of staters for a period of 50 or 60 years, leading us to conclude that the gold coinage of Lampsacus was as exciting in ancient times as it is today. We may generalise by saying that Greek gold coins fall into two broad categories: imperial and civic. The former, when well managed, was struck consistently and in large quantities. The civic coinages tended to be struck only periodically in response to crises, and this is the case even at some of the most prolific mints, such as Syracuse and Tarentum. However, Lampsacus seems to have issued a regular gold coinage, just as it had done in earlier times using electrum. Comparisons between Lampsacus, Cyzicus, Mytilene and Phocaea can readily be made except that the latter three mints continued to issue electrum long after the Archaic age had closed.
Stater circa 350, AV 8.42g. Head l. of bearded Pan, wearing a stephane and with goat's horns on his forehead; a lagobolon at his r. shoulder. Rev. Forepart of Pegasus r. Baldwin, The Gold Staters of Lampsakos, AJN 53, 1924, 31 and pl. III, 12. Baldwin, The Gold Coinage of Lampsakos, JIAN 5, 29 and pl. 3, 12. Regling, Prinkipo, 162-163 (these dies). Boston 1596 (these dies).
Exceedingly rare, apparently only the fourth specimen known. A portrait of superb style in
the finest style of the period. Area of weakness on reverse, otherwise good very fine
Ex Leu 52, 1991, 88 and New York XXVII, 2012, 469 sales.
The staters of Lampsacus are among the most appealing of all ancient gold coinages; not only is their artistry of a very high standard, but there is a considerable variety in obverse types, all of which are paired with the standard reverse depicting the forepart of a winged horse. This particular coin, struck at the end of the Classical period, bears the head of Zeus, the supreme deity of the Greeks. In her masterful study of 1924, Brett documents 41 issues of staters for a period of 50 or 60 years, leading us to conclude that the gold coinage of Lampsacus was as exciting in ancient times as it is today. We may generalise by saying that Greek gold coins fall into two broad categories: imperial and civic. The former, when well managed, was struck consistently and in large quantities. The civic coinages tended to be struck only periodically in response to crises, and this is the case even at some of the most prolific mints, such as Syracuse and Tarentum. However, Lampsacus seems to have issued a regular gold coinage, just as it had done in earlier times using electrum. Comparisons between Lampsacus, Cyzicus, Mytilene and Phocaea can readily be made except that the latter three mints continued to issue electrum long after the Archaic age had closed.