|
PAMPHYLIA, Aspendos. Circa 380/75-330/25 BC. AR Stater (25mm, 10.96 g, 12h). Two wrestlers grappling; FИ between, MENETVΣ EΛVΦA in exergue / Slinger in throwing stance right; counterclockwise triskeles to right; all within dotted square border. Tekin Series 4; SNG BN 97-8. Lightly toned, die breaks, some weakness to strike. Near EF.
Ex Ponterio 86 (4 April 1997), lot 1481.
As renderings of athleticism and action, the coins of Aspendos have seldom been matched. Aspendos was a colony of Argos located at the southern coast of Asia Minor on the navigable River Eurymedon, which made it an important emporium and naval base. Its famous wrestler coinage commences circa 410 BC. Wrestling was one of the premier events of Greek sports, practiced at the Olympic Games and at gymnasia throughout the ancient world. Poses of the wrestlers vary greatly. Sometimes, as here, they grasp each other’s arms; in other cases one tries to punch or trip the other. This specimen is notable for the tiny inscription below the wrestlers, which seems to spell out two complete names. They could represent mint magistrates; however, one 19th century scholar postulated that they referred to the wrestlers, naming one as Menetos (“Stalwart”) and the other as Elypsas (“Slippery”).
Closing Date and Time: 1 May 2024 at 11:01:20 ET.
All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.
|
