CRETE, Knossos. Circa 300-270 BC. AR Stater (23.5mm, 111.13 g, 1h). Good VF.

Triton XXVI
Lot: 176. Estimated: $ 10 000

Greek, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 16 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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CRETE, Knossos. Circa 300-270 BC. AR Stater (23.5mm, 111.13 g, 1h). Head of Hera left, wearing stephanos decorated with palmettes, ornate earring with upward crescent and three drops, and pearl necklace / Labyrinth; A-P across field, spearhead to left, thunderbolt to right; KNΩΣIΩN below. Svoronos, Numismatique 67, pl. VI, 6 (same rev. die); Le Rider, Crétoises, pl. XXXII, 5 (same obv. die); SNG Copenhagen 373; BMC 24–5; Dewing 1986 (same obv. die); Gillet 1008; Gulbenkian 566; Hunterian 12; de Luynes 2333. Toned, a few old scratches under tone, area of weak strike, reverse slightly off center. Good VF.

From the Pythagoras Collection.

The ancient city of Knossos, the remains of which were excavated by Sir Arthur Evans, beginning in 1900, was founded in the Minoan Period (circa 1700-1400 BC) as a large and complex palace-city. Although the exact origin of the word “labyrinth, as well as its location, remains open to scholarly conjecture, the intricate maze of rooms and interior courtyards of this palace-city contributed to the later Greek use of the word to describe a maze and the source of the events connected with it to Crete.

According to the Greek myth, Minos was the first king of Crete. Although he gave the island its first constitution, ordered the construction of the palace at Knossos, and was the first to build a navy, he was a cruel tyrant and imperialist. One of his subject cities was Athens. He demanded from its citizens as payment every nine years seven male youths and seven female virgins. Minos would feed them then to the Minotaur, a half-man, half-bull who was held in the Labyrinth, a large walled maze. To stop this brutal tribute, the Athenian hero, Theseus, had himself sent as part of the required tribute. With the assistance of Ariadne, the daughter of Minos, Theseus was able to navigate the Labyrinth successfully and kill the Minotaur.

The final winners of all Triton XXVI lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 10-11 January 2023.

Triton XXVI – Session One – Lots 1-334 will be held Tuesday morning, 10 January 2023 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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