Lot 3432

Description

Pamphylia, Aspendos, (c.375-360 B.C.), silver stater, (10.766 grams), obv. two naked athletes as wrestlers grasping each other by the hands, FN between (N reversed), dotted border, rev. slinger advancing to right about to discharge his sling, triskeles before, behind **EST*FE**DIIUS*, all within square dotted border, (cf.S.5396, BMC 41, SNG France 3, #97, SNG von Aulock 4568-9). Toned, obverse off centred, nearly extremely fine and rare.

Ex Patrick Cooper Collection, and previously from Sotheby's London, Auction Sale July 21, 1981 (lot 48). Aspendos was an Argive colony, located on the navigable river Eurymedon. It was an important port and naval base. These staters with Olympic and war themes (wrestlers and slinger) are of an outstanding style with good active poses. The slinger on the reverse is regarded as a canting type, since the word for slinger **sjendonhths* resembles the city name. The triskeles was the civic badge and occupies a prominent position on the reverse. Today these coins are often used as examples of Olympic Games activities and consequently are sought after.