Nomos 24

MYSIA. Lampsakos. Circa 412 BC. Stater (Electrum, 20.5 mm, 15.23 g). Forepart of Pegasos with curved wings to left, surrounded by a vine with leaves and bunches of grapes. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. Baldwin, Electrum pl. I, 11. BMC 9. BMFA 1582. SNG Paris 1111. SNG von Aulock 1292 var. (Ξ below Pegasos). Clear, well-struck, well-centered and unusually nice. Extremely fine.

Sold on behalf of a Swiss bank, ex Roma IV, 30 September 2012, 340.

Lampsakos was one of the most prosperous and powerful Greek cities of northern Asia Minor. By the mid fifth century it had become a member of the Delian League, originally formed in order to fight the Persians but subsequently used by Athens in her fight for supremacy against Sparta. While earlier scholars thought these Lampsakene staters were struck in the early 5th century due to their archaic style, hoard evidence has proven that they are considerably later, dating to the last decades of the fifth century. After the critical defeat of Athens in its failed Sicilian expedition of 415-413, a number of members of the League revolted, and it was at this time that this coin was struck, in order to pay the expenses incurred due to the rebellion.