Nomos AG
Auction 26 21 May 2023
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MACEDON. "Stagira". Circa 520-489 BC. Diobol (Silver, 11 mm, 1.25 g). At the center, large pellet within a circle; around, to left, right and below, rose; above, horse protome to left. Rev. Floral ornament with twelve petals or leaves; all within an incuse square. HPM, p. 233, 15 (but heavier) and pl. XVI, 39 (stater). Traité II, 1, 1853 (triobol). For examples of the same weight, see: M&M 73, 1988, 78 = M&M FPL 603, Christmas 1998, 22; M&M DE 9, 2001, 119; and NAC 126, 2021, 73 = Tkalec 2011, 15 (all three from the same dies). Very rare. Well-struck and toned. Obverse struck off-center, otherwise, about extremely fine.
From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions.
This coin is attributed to "Stagira" because that mint had an extensive series of "rose" coins - staters and fractions - that utilised a boar, or the forepart of a boar, as a mint signature. It is, however, most unlikely that this coin was struck by Stagira; the horse forepart symbol must indicate a different striking authority, especially since there are others with a ram's head, a lion's head, two dolphins or a bearded male head. What we probably have is a league of neighbouring cities striking a common coinage, with the differing symbols acting as city badges. While it might be suggested that all the coins were struck at a common mint, the differing styles of the roses makes it certain that they were all struck at separate mints.
From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions.
This coin is attributed to "Stagira" because that mint had an extensive series of "rose" coins - staters and fractions - that utilised a boar, or the forepart of a boar, as a mint signature. It is, however, most unlikely that this coin was struck by Stagira; the horse forepart symbol must indicate a different striking authority, especially since there are others with a ram's head, a lion's head, two dolphins or a bearded male head. What we probably have is a league of neighbouring cities striking a common coinage, with the differing symbols acting as city badges. While it might be suggested that all the coins were struck at a common mint, the differing styles of the roses makes it certain that they were all struck at separate mints.