Cyprus, Nikodamos, Stater
ca. 460-450 BC - Salamis - Silver - NGC - XF 3/5-5/5
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Ram recumbent to left.
Ankh, with in the circle the Cypriote syllabary letter "ni" for Nikodamos.
Graded NGC XF Strike: 3/5 Surface: 5/5. Apparently this specimen has an unpublished and unique reverse die type (cf. Roma Numismatics, Auction 23, 2022, 350 for similar specimen with same observe die), very nicely preserved despite an off-center obverse strike and a few small flats on the reliefs. From a Swiss collection, ex. Nomos 18, 2019, 217 acquirred from a Bavarian collection, formed at the beginning in the 1960s and ending in the 1990s.
𐠛𐠍𐠭𐠗 - 𐠩𐠵𐠐𐠪𐠞 (= 'pa-si-le-wo-se // Ni-ko-da-mo', 'king Nikodamos', in retrograde Cypriote syllabary, starting on the top right, continuing to the middle left, then starting on the bottom right
𐠛𐠖𐠏𐠩 = 'se-la-mi-ni', 'Salamis' in retrograde Cypriote syllabary, counter-clockwise from the bottom right, then top right, top left and bottom left. 𐠛 'Ni' in center for Nikodamos.
11.21 gr
Silver
Silver can fall into your pocket but also falls between copper and gold in group 11 of the periodic table. Three metals frequently used to mint coins. There are two good reasons for using silver: it is a precious metal and oxidizes little upon contact with air. Two advantages not to be taken for granted.
Here is thus a metal that won’t vanish into thin air.
It’s chemical symbol Ag is derived from the Latin word for silver (argentum), compare Ancient Greek ἄργυρος (árgyros). Silver has a white, shiny appearance and, to add a little bit of esotericism or polytheism to the mix, is traditionally dedicated to the Moon or the goddess Artemis (Diana to the Romans).
As a precious metal, just like gold, silver is used to mint coins with an intrinsic value, meaning their value is constituted by the material of which they are made. It should be noted that small quantities of other metals are frequently added to silver to make it harder, as it is naturally very malleable (you can’t have everything) and thus wears away rapidly.
The first silver coins probably date back to the end of the 7th century BC and were struck on the Greek island of Aegina. These little beauties can be recognized by the turtle featured on the reverse.
The patina of silver ranges from gray to black.
The millesimal fineness (or alloy) of a coin indicates the exact proportion (in parts per thousand) of silver included in the composition. We thus speak, for example, of 999‰ silver or 999 parts of silver per 1 part of other metals. This measure is important for investment coins such as bullion. In France, it was expressed in carats until 1995.