Cilicia, Stater, ca. 400-350 BC
Kelenderis - Silver - AU(50-53) - Pozzi:2817
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Young ephebe facing, head to right, riding sidesaddle on a galloping horse, holding a whip (?) in his right hand and halter in his left.
Kneeling goat on a pearled ground line on the right, head turned to the left, ethnic around, all within an incuse square.
A rare Kalenderis stater with a superb cabinet patina and a few iridescent reflections between 2h and 4h on the reverse. Our example is the only type of stater known from this city where the ethnic is fully written and the reverse iconography is included in an incuse square. Our example shows all the iconography on the obverse and most of the incuse square on the reverse. Only the lower left corner of the latter and one of the letters of the legend are not visible. The details of the ephebe's hair, the horse's mane and, above all, the goat are remarkable. Every hair on the animal's goatee and neck is visible, and its horn is finely detailed. The features of its legs are elegant and delicately represented. The ethnic is inscribed following the outline of the square: the legend starts at the top left, goes to the right, then descends and continues this time to the left, then back to the starting point. Our specimen is the latest type to feature a goat: the engraving is finer, more detailed, and above all, the legend is not abbreviated by ΚΕΛ, ΚΕΛΕ or ΚΕΛΕΝ. This stater with full ethnic and incuse square has rarely been offered for sale - less than ten examples over the last 20 years - and is known in just a few institutions: the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the Munzkabinett in Berlin and the British Museum. A must-have! Kraay 1962, Series IV; Pozzi 2817; Babelon II 1479; SNG France 2, 77 (Pl. VIII, 5); Gulbenkian 798; Jameson 1598 and Bément II, 1610 (Naville VII, 1924). Ex Comtesse de Béhague Collection (Vinchon, 14 April 1984, lot 191) = ex J.Hirsch VII, 2 June 1902, lot 396. Faune d'Argent Collection.
ΚΕΛΕ-ΝΔ-ΕΡΙΤΙΚΟ-Ν
10.41 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.
An “AU(50-53)” quality
As in numismatics, it is important that the state of conservation of an item be carefully evaluated before it is offered to a discerning collector with a keen eye.
This initially obscure acronym comprising two words describing the state of conservation is explained clearly here:
About Uncirculated(50-53)
This means – more prosaically – that the coin has circulated well from hand to hand and pocket to pocket but the impact on its wear remains limited: the coins displays sharp detailing and little sign of being circulated. The number (50-53) indicates that at least half of the original luster remains. Closer examination with the naked eye reveals minor scratches or nicks.
You might be wondering why there are different ranges of numbers behind the same abbreviation. Well, we’ll explain:
The numbers are subdivisions within a category, showing that the state of conversation is the same but coins may be at the higher or lower end of the scale. In the case of AU, the range (55-58) indicates that the luster is better preserved in than a similar coin described as (50-53).
