Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 123 23-24 May 2023
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ELIS, Olympia. 128th-132nd Olympiad. 268-252 BC. AR Stater (26mm, 11.81 g, 12h). Head of Zeus right, wearing laurel wreath; AP below neck truncation / Eagle standing left; F-A across upper field; to left, serpent coiled right. Seltman, Temple 235b (dies DE/ζπ) = Jameson 2511 = Bement 1241 (this coin, rev. illustrated in Seltman); BCD Olympia –; HGC 5, 406 (this coin illustrated). Old cabinet tone, a few old scratches under tone, slight die wear and minor doubling on reverse. Near EF. Extremely rare, and with a fantastic pedigree.
From the Eardley and Ethel Madsen Collection. Ex Robert Jameson Collection (Hess-Leu, 14 April 1954), lot 122; Clarence S. Bement Collection (Part II, Naville VII, 23 June 1924), lot 1241; J. Hirsch XXVI (24 May 1910), lot 528.
This coin was the featured cover coin for the SAN – Journal of the Society for Ancient Numismatics vol. XXV, no. 1 (Spring 1984).
Located on the northwest corner of the Peloponnesos, the sacred shrine of Olympia became established as the site of the most important Greek festival of athletics in the eighth century BC. The first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC, consisting solely of a foot race, or stadion, won in that year by Koroibus of Elis. As time went on, more events were added, including wrestling, boxing, long jump, javelin, discus, and chariot races. The contests became so important that Greek cities at war would declare a truce for the duration. Soon a permanent complex was built to house the games, and a magnificent temple of Zeus containing a statue ranked as one of the Seven Wonders of the World was completed in 463 BC. The first coins of Olympia date to the games of 468 BC, and new types were issued at four year intervals (to coincide with the games) thereafter. Three basic types were struck, depicting a head of Zeus, Hera, or an eagle. The finest die engravers were employed in their production and coins of Olympia rank as some of the greatest masterpieces of Greek coinage. This silver stater belongs to the Zeus group and was struck in the 260s to 250s BC, for the 128th to 132nd Olympiads.
From the Eardley and Ethel Madsen Collection. Ex Robert Jameson Collection (Hess-Leu, 14 April 1954), lot 122; Clarence S. Bement Collection (Part II, Naville VII, 23 June 1924), lot 1241; J. Hirsch XXVI (24 May 1910), lot 528.
This coin was the featured cover coin for the SAN – Journal of the Society for Ancient Numismatics vol. XXV, no. 1 (Spring 1984).
Located on the northwest corner of the Peloponnesos, the sacred shrine of Olympia became established as the site of the most important Greek festival of athletics in the eighth century BC. The first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC, consisting solely of a foot race, or stadion, won in that year by Koroibus of Elis. As time went on, more events were added, including wrestling, boxing, long jump, javelin, discus, and chariot races. The contests became so important that Greek cities at war would declare a truce for the duration. Soon a permanent complex was built to house the games, and a magnificent temple of Zeus containing a statue ranked as one of the Seven Wonders of the World was completed in 463 BC. The first coins of Olympia date to the games of 468 BC, and new types were issued at four year intervals (to coincide with the games) thereafter. Three basic types were struck, depicting a head of Zeus, Hera, or an eagle. The finest die engravers were employed in their production and coins of Olympia rank as some of the greatest masterpieces of Greek coinage. This silver stater belongs to the Zeus group and was struck in the 260s to 250s BC, for the 128th to 132nd Olympiads.