ELIS, Olympia. 89th-90th Olympiad. 424-420 BC. AR Stater (24.5mm, 12.03 g, 10h). Obverse die signed by Da–. Eagle, wings spread, standing right on, and holding the neck of, a serpent, while the serpent strikes at its head; Δ-A across central field / Upright thunderbolt, with wings above and volutes below; F-A across central field; all in dotted circle within shallow incuse circle. Seltman, Temple 140d (dies BN/γκ) = Jameson 1228 (this coin); BCD Olympia 58 (same dies); HGC 5, 341 (same dies as illustration); Boston MFA 1202 = Warren 918 (same dies). Lovely old cabinet tone, with a hint of iridescence, slightly off center on obverse. Good VF.
Ex Mark & Lottie Salton Collection (Stack’s Bowers Galleries, 14 January 2022), lot 4310 (hammer $46,000); Robert Jameson Collection (publ. 1913); J. Hirsch XVI (5 December 1906), lot 557.
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.
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