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ELIS, Olympia. 110th Olympiad. 340 BC. AR Stater (22mm, 12.29 g, 9h). Head of Zeus right, wearing laurel wreath / Eagle, with closed wings, standing right on the head of a ram right; F-A/A-P in two lines across field. Seltman, Temple 194 (CK/εγ); BCD Olympia 153 (same dies); HGC 5, 387; M.-M. Bendenoun, Coins of the Ancient World, A portrait of the JDL Collection (Genève, 2009), 21 = Kraay & Hirmer 505 (this coin); Weber 4050 (same dies). In NGC encapsulation 3761907-001, graded AU★, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Fine Style, test mark.
Ex JDL Collection (Numismatica Ars Classica 74 and Tradart 18 [joint sale], 18 November 2013), lot 10; Sternberg XVI (15 November 1985), lot 131; Leu 13 (29 April 1975), lot 167.
Located on the northwest corner of the Peloponnesos, the sacred shrine of Olympia became established as the site of the most important Greek festival of athletics in the eighth century BC. The first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC, consisting solely of a foot race, or stadion, won in that year by Koroibus of Elis. As time went on, more events were added, including wrestling, boxing, long jump, javelin, discus, and chariot races. The contests became so important that Greek cities at war would declare a temporary truce to allow athletes to cross their lines. Soon a permanent complex was built to house the games, and a magnificent temple of Zeus containing a statue ranked as one of the Seven Wonders of the World was completed in 463 BC. The first coins of Olympia date to the games of 468 BC, and new types were issued at four year intervals (to coincide with the games) thereafter. Three basic types were struck, depicting a head of Zeus, Hera, or an eagle. The finest die engravers were employed in their production and coins of Olympia rank as some of the greatest masterpieces of Greek coinage. This silver stater belongs to the Zeus group and was struck in 340 BC, for the 110th Olympiad. In that year, according to a list compiled by the historian Eusebius of Caesarea, the stadion was won by Antikles of Athens.
The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 129 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 13-14 May 2025. This lot is in Session One, which will begin 13 May at 9 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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