Nomos 23

MYSIA. Lampsakos. Circa 412 BC. Stater (Electrum, 20 mm, 15.26 g). Forepart of Pegasos with curved wings left; below, Ξ; all surrounded by a vine with several leaves and bunches of grapes. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. Baldwin, Electrum p. 9, 12y = Gillet 1111 (this coin). BMC 8. B. V. Head, "On a recent find of staters of Cyzicus", NC 1876, pp. 277-298, pl. VIII, 31 (in p. 286, Head actually refers to this example among the 12 specimens that were then in the possession of Rollin & Feuardent). Kraay & Hirmer 727 (same dies). SNG Spencer-Churchill 179 (this coin). SNG von Aulock 1292 (same dies). Traité II 327 and pl. VIII, 4 (same dies). Very well-struck, very well-centered and attractively toned - an unusually fine example, rare thus. Extremely fine.

Sold on behalf of the Compagnie Bancaire Helvétique, Switzerland, from the collections of C. Gillet (1111), E. G. Spencer Churchill, G. Duruflé, Rollin & Feuardent 9 May 1910, 506, and Albéric, Comte du Chastel, Rollin & Feuardent, May 27 May 1889, 79, and from the Vourla Hoard of 1875 (IGCH 1194).

Lampsakos was one of the most prosperous and powerful Greek cities of northern Asia Minor. In the fifth century it had become a member-state of the Delian League, originally formed in order to fight the Persians but subsequently used by Athens in her fight for supremacy against Sparta. While earlier scholars thought these Lampsakene staters were struck in the early 5th century due to their archaic style, hoard evidence has proven that they are considerably later, dating to the last decades of the fifth century. After the critical defeat of Athens in its failed Sicilian expedition of 415-413, a number of member-states of the League revolted, and it was at this time that this coin was struck, in order to pay the expenses incurred due to the rebellion.