Sale: Triton VIII, Lot: 376. Estimate $5000.  Closing Date: Monday, 10 January 2005.  Sold For $6750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MYSIA, Lampsakos. Circa 394-350 BC. AV Stater (8.56 gm, 4h). Laureate head of Zeus left; lotus flower behind / Forepart of Pegasos right in shallow incuse. Baldwin, Electrum 29 (dies I/g); SNG France 1137 (same obverse die); BMC Mysia pg. 81, 28 corr. (same dies); SNG Copenhagen -; Traité pl. CLXXI, 3; SNG von Aulock 7394 (same obverse die); Boston MFA 1594 (same dies); Jameson 1442; Weber 2449; Gulbenkian 692. Good VF. Rare. ($5000)

Lampsakos derived its wealth from the traffic passing between the Aegean and the Black Sea, being possessed of an excellent harbor in a strategic position guarding the eastern entrance to the Hellespont opposite Kallipolis. In the sixth and fifth centuries BC, Lampsakos passed successively under Lydian, Persian, Athenian, and Spartan control. Its tribute of twelve talents, as a member of the Delian League, and production of electrum staters in the fifth century BC, attest to its commercial wealth. Following the example and standard of the Persic daric, Lampsakos was the first Greek city to make regular issues of gold coinage which enjoyed an international circulation.