Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 133 21 Nov 2022
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Greek Coins. Islands off Ionia, Chios.
Stater circa 525-500, EL 14.02 g. Sphinx seated r. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. Baldwin, AJN 48, pl. 1, 2b (this coin). Jameson 1519 (this coin). Jameson, Trouvaille de Vourla, RN 1911, pl. I, 1 (this coin). BMC 31 and pl. I, 19. Mavrogordato, NC 1915, pl. I, 4. Boston, MFA 1809.
Of the highest rarity, only very few specimens known. An issue of
great importance and fascination. Very fine
Ex Hess-Leu 7, 1957, 272; Glendining & Co 13 December 1963, Foreign Amateur, 324 and New York XXVII, 2012,Prospero, 527 sales. From the Jameson collection and from the Vourla Hoard (1910).
Most of the rare electrum staters of Chios bear a square reverse punch that is narrow and deep, with very little (if any) trace of internal division of the surface. This piece is distinct from the aforementioned group with its rough quadripartite of the mill sail pattern. Indeed, the features of its reverse allow it to be incorporated into Kraay's proposed scenario for a group of electrum staters that he attributes to the 'Ionian Revolt' against Persia at the dawn of the 5th Century B.C. Kraay writes: "The final manifestation of electrum coinage in Ionia proper was a series of staters of the Lydo-Milesian standard, bearing some ten different obverse types, which have been plausibly associated with the Ionian Revolt, 500-494 BC, though decisive proof of the connection is still lacking; uniformity of style and fabric has suggested that all are products of a single mint". He suggests that issues can be attributed to Chios, Lampsacus, Samos, Abydus, Cyme, Clazomenae, Dardanus and Priene based upon distinctive obverse types, but acknowledges "...the most puzzling feature, if the proposed historical context is correct, is the total absence of any type that could be attributed to Miletus, the centre and leader of the revolt. One solution would be to regard Miletus as the mint of the whole series, the types being either the devices of the states which had contributed bullion to the general cause, or the control-marks selected by successive Milesian officials in charge of minting. We have seen that variety of type had long been characteristic of many electrum issues, and is therefore a feature that would be likely to be preserved in a revival of a traditional kind of coinage in a moment of national crisis".
Stater circa 525-500, EL 14.02 g. Sphinx seated r. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. Baldwin, AJN 48, pl. 1, 2b (this coin). Jameson 1519 (this coin). Jameson, Trouvaille de Vourla, RN 1911, pl. I, 1 (this coin). BMC 31 and pl. I, 19. Mavrogordato, NC 1915, pl. I, 4. Boston, MFA 1809.
Of the highest rarity, only very few specimens known. An issue of
great importance and fascination. Very fine
Ex Hess-Leu 7, 1957, 272; Glendining & Co 13 December 1963, Foreign Amateur, 324 and New York XXVII, 2012,Prospero, 527 sales. From the Jameson collection and from the Vourla Hoard (1910).
Most of the rare electrum staters of Chios bear a square reverse punch that is narrow and deep, with very little (if any) trace of internal division of the surface. This piece is distinct from the aforementioned group with its rough quadripartite of the mill sail pattern. Indeed, the features of its reverse allow it to be incorporated into Kraay's proposed scenario for a group of electrum staters that he attributes to the 'Ionian Revolt' against Persia at the dawn of the 5th Century B.C. Kraay writes: "The final manifestation of electrum coinage in Ionia proper was a series of staters of the Lydo-Milesian standard, bearing some ten different obverse types, which have been plausibly associated with the Ionian Revolt, 500-494 BC, though decisive proof of the connection is still lacking; uniformity of style and fabric has suggested that all are products of a single mint". He suggests that issues can be attributed to Chios, Lampsacus, Samos, Abydus, Cyme, Clazomenae, Dardanus and Priene based upon distinctive obverse types, but acknowledges "...the most puzzling feature, if the proposed historical context is correct, is the total absence of any type that could be attributed to Miletus, the centre and leader of the revolt. One solution would be to regard Miletus as the mint of the whole series, the types being either the devices of the states which had contributed bullion to the general cause, or the control-marks selected by successive Milesian officials in charge of minting. We have seen that variety of type had long been characteristic of many electrum issues, and is therefore a feature that would be likely to be preserved in a revival of a traditional kind of coinage in a moment of national crisis".