Lucania, Stater, ca. 300-280 BC
Thourioi - Silver - AU(55-58) - BMC:96 - HN
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Head of Athena Pallas right, wearing crested Attic helmet with long tail, the bowl adorned with Scylla hurling stone; (on neck flap, letters ?).
Bull to right, his right foreleg bent and his head bent (in sacrifical position); below him, Φ - ΡΥ; above, Nike flying right crowning bull with wreath; behind her, tripod or lyra. In exergue, ethnic.
Stater of the highest rarity. This example presents a type never seen in sales over the last twenty years, and which even seems to have been absent from major coin collections on Magna Graecia such as those of Pozzi, Jameson or Lockett. This stater is only referenced in the BMC Italy, at no. 96, and in the HN Italy, at no. 1881. The HN Italy only refers to the British Museum coin, which was acquired in 1856 (number 1856,0929.3) with an identical type. In addition, the British Museum's record notes only this reference for their coin. A similar example was also in the McClean collection (McClean 1309 = HN Italy 1879), with a ΦI above the bull, without letters below, while another example was in the Allotte de La Fuÿe collection (HN Italy 1880), with the same letters on the reverse, misinterpreted as an ‘H’ in the HN Italy. We have here an example with a legend variety so rare that it is very difficult to find any examples in reference books. In a remarkable state of preservation, our coin is much better preserved than the one in the British Museum, with much more visible lettering and better centering. The former sale does not specify a previous provenance and indicates as book references ‘Jameson 363’ and ‘Noe NNM 71 (1935), C4’, but they do not correspond in any way with the specimen being sold. This coin ranks among the rarest in this Greek coins collection, in addition to its superb state of preservation. HN Italy 1881; BMC Italy 96 and HGC 1, 1263. Ex Vinchon, 27 October 2000, lot 16 = CNG, Triton II, 1st December 1998, lot 104. Faune d'Argent Collection.
Φ - ΡΥ // ΘΟΥΡΙΩΝ
8 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(55-58)” 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(55-58)
This means – more prosaically – that the coin has been in circulation but sufficiently little that its original beauty is preserved almost in its entirety. The wear is barely visible and any other defect can only be identified with a magnifying glass or a particularly keen eye. The number (55-58) indicates that between three quarters and almost all of the original luster remains.
