ELIS, Olympia. 101st Olympiad. 376 BC. AR Stater (21.5mm, 12.04 g, 12h). Hera mint. VF.

Triton XXVII
Lot: 201. Estimated: $ 10 000

Greek, 12h, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 20 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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ELIS, Olympia. 101st Olympiad. 376 BC. AR Stater (21.5mm, 12.04 g, 12h). Hera mint. Head of Hera right, wearing ornamented stephanos and single-pendant earring; F-A flanking neck / Eagle standing right, head left, wings spread, within olive wreath. Seltman, Temple 294 (dies ER/θι); BCD Olympia 110 (same dies); BMC 95 (same dies); Rhousopoulos 2558 (same dies). Lightly toned, minor porosity and flan flaws. VF.

From the Columbus Collection. Ex New York Sale IV (17 January 2002), lot 166; Hess-Leu [7] (16 April 1957), lot 230.

Located near the northwestern coast 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 Hera group and was struck at the peak of Elean artistic excellence, for the 101st Olympiad.

The final winners of all Triton XXVII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 9-10 January 2024.

Triton XXVII – Session One – Lot 1-337 will be held Tuesday morning, 9 January 2024 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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