Ancient Greek - AR Stater - Mint: Pamphylia, Aspen's - Circa 380-325 BC - Mounted in 14K gold leaf
$3,600
Denomination: AR Stater
Date: Circa 380-325 BC
Mint: PAMPHYLIA. Aspendus
Weight: 10.88 g
Grade: NGC (6327636-014) Choice VF - 4/5 - 4/5.
Description: Obverse: Two nude wrestlers competing, wrestler on right holding right knee and chest of opponent. Reverse: Greek (ΕΣΤEΕ), slinger standing right, placing bullet in sling which he is drawing; triskeles counterclockwise in right field.
History: Aspendus was an ancient city in Pamphylia, Asia Minor, located about 25 miles east of the modern city of Antalya, Turkey. It was situated on the Eurymedon River about 10 miles inland from the Mediterranean Sea; it shared a border with, and was hostile to, Side. According to later tradition, the (originally non-Greek) city was founded around 1000 B.C. by Greeks who may have come from Argos.
The wide range of its coinage throughout the ancient world indicates that, in the 5th century B.C., Aspendus had become the most important city in Pamphylia. At that time the Eurymedon River was navigable as far as Aspendus, and the city derived great wealth from a trade in salt, oil, and wool. Aspendos was one of the earliest cities to mint coins. It began issuing coinage around 500 B.C., first staters and later drachmas.
Aspendos is known for having the best-preserved theater of antiquity. With a diameter of 96 meters (315 ft), the theater provided seating for 7,000. The theater was built in 155 by the Greek architect Zenon, a native of the city, during the rule of Marcus Aurelius. It was periodically repaired by the Seljuks, who used it as a caravansary, and in the 13th century the stage building was converted into a palace by the Seljuqs of Rum.
ID63108
