Nomos 32

ASIA MINOR. Uncertain mint. Early-mid 5th century. Diobol (Silver, 10 mm, 1.23 g). Two wrestlers grappling, grasping each others hands; between them, aryballos; dotted ground line. Rev. Rough incuse square. Lanz 151, 2011, 501 (same dies). Cf. A. Milavic, Research and analysis reveal the first Greek wrestler-type coin, The Celator, 7, 2, February 1993, pp. 6-12 = A. Milavic, The First Greek Wrestler-Type Coin, The International Journal of the History of Sport, 10, 3 December 1993, pp. 409-417 (for an obol of this type). Extremely rare, with bold and clear types, the better of the two known examples. Porous, otherwise, very fine.

From the collection of Major Anthony F. Milavic, USMC (Ret.), ex Classical Numismatic Group e319, 29 January 2014, 101.

The obverse type tends to suggest an attribution to either Aspendos or Selge, where wrestler types were popular, yet this coin does not easily fit into the weight systems of either city. The object between the wrestlers has been described as a "globule," or a "krater?" (Lanz), but given its athletic associations it seems better to see it as a small, globular oil flask, an aryballos.