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CSNS Signature Sale 3107 3-5 May 2023
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Ancients
LYDIAN KINGDOM. Croesus (561-546 BC). AV stater (17mm, 10.77 gm). NGC MS★ 5/5 - 5/5. Sardes, "heavy" standard, ca. 561-550 BC. Confronted foreparts of lion right and bull left, both with outstretched foreleg / Two incuse square punches of unequal size, side by side, with irregular interior surfaces. Berk "100 Greatest Ancient Coins", 9.2. BMC Lydia 30. Boston MFA 2068. Gulbenkian 756. Exceptionally well struck with all aspects of the foreparts visible on the rich, velveteen surfaces. Brilliant luster in the protected areas flash against the otherwise deep marigold flan.
This series can justifiably be termed the "world's first major gold coinage." While the Lydian kingdom and several Greek city states of Asia Minor had previously struck coins in electrum, a natural alloy of gold and silver, the accession of Croesus to the Lydian throne circa 561 BC ushered in a revolution in the world economy. The most important reform attributed to Croesus was the introduction of a bimetallic coinage in gold and silver, first augmenting and then replacing the previous electrum issues. The design chosen by Croesus, confronting foreparts of a lion and bull, are thought by Harlan J. Berk to be symbolic of "strength and power" (lion) and "fertility" (bull). The lion had previously been used by Alyattes, and so an alternative theory might be that this is a dynastic type, with the lion representing Alyattes and the bull representing his son and successor. The creation of separate gold and silver denominations ranging from a full stater down to 1/96th of a stater was a visionary move that had a major impact on the ancient economy. Gold staters were initially issued by Croesus on a "heavy" standard of about 10.7 grams, the same weight as the new silver stater denomination (although, since silver is a lighter metal, the gold issues were smaller in size and much more valuable).
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-lydian-kingdom-croesus-561-546-bc-av-stater-17mm-1077-gm-ngc-msand-9733-5-5-5-5/a/3107-30026.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3107-05032023
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 100000-150000 USD
LYDIAN KINGDOM. Croesus (561-546 BC). AV stater (17mm, 10.77 gm). NGC MS★ 5/5 - 5/5. Sardes, "heavy" standard, ca. 561-550 BC. Confronted foreparts of lion right and bull left, both with outstretched foreleg / Two incuse square punches of unequal size, side by side, with irregular interior surfaces. Berk "100 Greatest Ancient Coins", 9.2. BMC Lydia 30. Boston MFA 2068. Gulbenkian 756. Exceptionally well struck with all aspects of the foreparts visible on the rich, velveteen surfaces. Brilliant luster in the protected areas flash against the otherwise deep marigold flan.
This series can justifiably be termed the "world's first major gold coinage." While the Lydian kingdom and several Greek city states of Asia Minor had previously struck coins in electrum, a natural alloy of gold and silver, the accession of Croesus to the Lydian throne circa 561 BC ushered in a revolution in the world economy. The most important reform attributed to Croesus was the introduction of a bimetallic coinage in gold and silver, first augmenting and then replacing the previous electrum issues. The design chosen by Croesus, confronting foreparts of a lion and bull, are thought by Harlan J. Berk to be symbolic of "strength and power" (lion) and "fertility" (bull). The lion had previously been used by Alyattes, and so an alternative theory might be that this is a dynastic type, with the lion representing Alyattes and the bull representing his son and successor. The creation of separate gold and silver denominations ranging from a full stater down to 1/96th of a stater was a visionary move that had a major impact on the ancient economy. Gold staters were initially issued by Croesus on a "heavy" standard of about 10.7 grams, the same weight as the new silver stater denomination (although, since silver is a lighter metal, the gold issues were smaller in size and much more valuable).
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-lydian-kingdom-croesus-561-546-bc-av-stater-17mm-1077-gm-ngc-msand-9733-5-5-5-5/a/3107-30026.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3107-05032023
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 100000-150000 USD