Nomos 37

PAMPHYLIA. Aspendos. Circa 380/75-330/25 BC. Stater (Silver, 27 mm, 10.85 g, 12 h), with the words Menetys Elypha, or Menetys Elypsa on the obverse. Two wrestlers beginning to grapple with each other; between them, ϜͶ; in exergue, in tiny letters, ΜΕΝΕΤΥΣ ΕΛVΦΑ. Rev. ΕΣΤFΕΔΙΙΥΙ Slinger striding right, preparing to launch sling-bolt; to right, triskeles to left. SNG France 97. SNG von Aulock 4568 (this obverse die). Tekin Series D. A clear, sharply struck and lustrous coin with an enigmatic legend. Virtually as struck.

Ex Roma XXII, 7 October 2021, 367.

There has been debate over the meaning of this coin's obverse legend since the late 19th century. The usual staters of Aspendos normally only have magistrates' initials on their obverses, as the Fnon this coin; thus, having two complete names in the exergue is quite remarkable. This is even more so since the arrangement of the names varies: it can be either Menetys Elypha or Menetys Elypsa as here, or Elypha/Elypsa Menetys as SNG France 96. The inscription is nowhere clear enough to be sure whether the relevant letter is a Phi or a Psi. Some people believe we have an artist's signature: Μένετυς ἔ(γ)λυψα or Menetys cut. Others see this as being a magistrate's name with a patronymic: Menetys son of Elyph/psas. Finally, Bergk's interpretation of 1884 reads the legend as a reference to the two wrestlers, identifying one as Menetos (the Stalwart), and the other as Elypsas (the Slippery). I must say I rather prefer the last version...even though, se non è vero, è ben trovato!