The Stack’s Bowers Galleries August ANA World’s Fair of Money Auction is packed with excellent ancient coins for all types of collectors. Today we feature an AR Stater from the ancient Greek city-state of Salamis comprising the far eastern end of the island of Cyprus. This area has long been a contested region, between the Greeks and Persians. At the time of the striking of this piece it was under nominal Persian control. The Persians allowed the Cypriots to keep striking their own coinage and to continue their warfare amongst the other Cypriot city-states. Due to their Persian overlords, the coinage of Cyprus was on the Persic Standard at the time.
The obverse design features the ever popular Greek demigod and hero, Hercules. His bearded head is depicted facing right in his classical attire, the mane of the slain Nemean Lion. More information (and another exceptional ancient coin offering) can be found here and here. The reverse design displays a seated goat facing right with an ear of grain above. Cypriot legends appear below and above the goat. The lovely dark toning enhances the coin’s visual appeal, as does the remarkable metal quality.
Look for this and other ancient and world numismatic rarities in our upcoming August ANA World’s Fair of Money Auction and Sale. Preview this impressive coin along with the rest of our auction this July at the Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio office located in Irvine, California. For details please refer to the Events Calendar at www.StacksBowers.com. To schedule an appointment, please call 800.458.4646. While our Stack’s Bowers Galleries August ANA World’s Fair of Money Auction is closed for further consignments, we are currently taking consignments of ancient and world coins for our November 2014 Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo and our 2015 January New York International Sale. Time is running short, so if you are interested in consigning your coins and paper currency (whether a whole collection or a single rarity) be sure to contact one of our consignment directors.
