Elis, Stater, 336 BC
Olympia - Silver - VF(30-35) - HGC:5-394
Sold
Head of Hera wearing an earring and diadem inscribed ϜΑΛΕΙΩΝ, right; F behind her neck.
Eagle with spread wings standing left on turtoise shell and head to the right, all within an olive wreath.
A pleasant stater struck on the aiginetic standard, with fine centering, details and a beautiful gray patina. Rarely seen in sales in recent years, our specimen is also rare for its type! Our coin was minted in 336 BC, the same year as the assassination of Philip II of Macedonia, founder of the League of Corinth to which our city belonged. The same year saw the 111th edition of the Olympic Games. These ancient games were held in the eponymous city of Olympia, whose main patron deities were Zeus and Hera. A sacred grove, an altar, a temple and, in particular, the famous chryselephantine statue by Phidias - Olympian Zeus (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) - were dedicated to the king of the gods. The eagle on the reverse also recalls Zeus, since this bird of prey is one of his attributes. As for Hera, she had a temple in the city, the Heraion, considered to be the first Doric temple in the Peloponnese. She is depicted on the obverse of our coin wearing an inscribed diadem whose translation is equivalent to “Eleans”: the inhabitants of Elis. Her iconography emphasizes her role as protector of the city. The olive wreath on the reverse of our coin also recalls the Olympic Games. In fact, it was the reward for the winners of the competition, made from olive trees from the sacred forest that grew around Olympia. A rare coin closely linked to the protective divinities of its city and its role in the Panhellenic Games. A must-have! HGC 5, 394; BCD Olympia 159 and Seltman 344. Faune d'Argent Collection.
ϜΑΛΕΙΩΝ / F
11.94 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.
