Lot 3219

Description

Peloponnesos, Elis, Olympia, (c.400-380 B.C.), silver stater, (11.764 grams), obv. Zeus Olympios bearded head crowned with olive wreath to left, rev, eagle with closed wings standing right on Ionic column, around FA**L EIWN*, (S.2885 [£3500], Seltman 183 [p.59, same dies], McClean 6632 [p.433, Pl.226, 13, same dies]. Toned, gash across eagle on reverse, otherwise good fine and very rare.

Seltman notes just two examples from this pair of dies and a total of 14 coins from all dies with a complete ethnic on the reverse. The head of Zeus Olympios on this coin has as model the head of the famous statue of Zeus Olympios by the master sculptor Phidias.