PAMPHYLIA, Aspendos. Circa 380/75-330/25 BC. AR Stater (22mm, 10.92 g, 12h). VF.

Electronic Auction 603
Lot: 276. Estimated: $ 200

Greek, 12h, Silver

Sold For $ 750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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PAMPHYLIA, Aspendos. Circa 380/75-330/25 BC. AR Stater (22mm, 10.92 g, 12h). Two wrestlers, nude, grappling; FИ between, MENETVΣ EΛVΦA in exergue / Slinger in throwing stance right; triskeles to right; all within dotted square border. Tekin Series 4; SNG BN 97-8. Faintly toned, underlying luster, a little die wear on obverse, weakly struck on reverse. VF.

From the Heather Howard Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 29 (21 May 2001), lot 62629.

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: 4 February 2026 at 11:31:40 ET.

All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.