Lot 3305

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 or broken piece of metal across eagle on reverse, otherwise very fine and very rare.

Ex Spink Numismatic Circular, September 1980 (No.7164, Å“900). 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. Same dies as BCD example (lot 128 Leu, Sale 90 10 May 2004. realised 17,000 SFr.).