Lokris, Stater, ca. 370-360 BC
Opus - Silver - AU(50-53) - HGC:4-989
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Head of Demeter (Persephone?) left, wearing grain wreath, triple-pendant earring and pearled necklace.
Ajax the Lesser advancing right on ground, naked, wearing crested corinthian helmet, holding xiphos in right hand and large round shield on left arm, adorned on the inside with a coiled snake. Between his legs, spearhead to left.
Locris, Lokri Opuntii. Stater on Aeginetic standard and of great quality. The strike has created an exceptional portrait of Demeter in high relief. It has been slightly worn by circulation on the highest surfaces, at the level of the hair. However, this relief has helped to spare the rest of the portrait lower and preserved the rest of the hair and facial details, which are absolutely remarkable. On the reverse, the strike created a slight curve of the flan, helping to preserve the figure of Ajax the Lesser, which is extremely well preserved. The coin is covered in a splendid grey cabinet patina, with beautiful iridescent tones. Finally, there is the small symbol between the hero's legs, a spearhead turned to the left. This symbol has rarely been found on Opuntian coinage, and only a few examples have been auctioned to date. This one was sold by Numismatic Fine Arts in 1981, and is the specimen illustrating No. 78a of the reference book on the coinage of this city, "Coinage of the Opountian Lokrians". The details of the musculature and equipment carried by Ajax, Greek hero of the Iliad, son of Oïlée (king of Locride), are clearly admirable. The Locrians of Opountis worshipped the hero, who was punished by the gods for offending them. During the sack of Troy, Ajax raped Cassandra, the priestess of Athena with whom Apollo had fallen in love, while she was hanging on the Palladium (wooden statue of Athena). To make amends for this offence, it is said that the Locrians sent two young virgins to the city of Troy each year as compensation, and that they would be immolated if they were captured by the Trojans before reaching the temple. For this act, he was punished by Apollo while at sea and was shipwrecked on a cliff, where he took refuge after being saved by Poseidon. But, consumed by hubris and cursing the gods, Poseidon himself punished him in return, striking the rock where he had taken refuge with his trident and thereby drowning him. After his death, he is said to have joined Achilles on the Isle of White/Leuce, the home of the Iliad's dead protagonists. The mythological symbolism of this setback is of great interest, especially as we can also envisage a historical dimension, as it is said that the Locrians left a place for the hero in the ranks of their army, and that they also held festivities in his honour, the ‘Aianteia’. We can also imagine that the city of Oponte (Opus / Opous or Opuntis), although we don't have its exact location, had a temple or sanctuary dedicated to the Greek hero. It also probably worshipped Demeter (or Persephone), who is represented in the magnificent portrait on the observe. BCD Lokris-Phokis 17; Dewing 1475; Wartenberg 3-4 var (spearhead to right) and Humphris & Delbridge, Group 6, Pl. 5, 78a (O10/R17) (this example) = ex. NFA (Numismatic Fine Arts), Auction X, 17-18 September 1981, lot 130. Faune d'Argent Collection.
ΟΠΟΝ - ΤΙΩΝ
12.2 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).
