Stater
Features
| Country |
Gortyna
(Crete (ancient)) |
|---|---|
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 400 BC - 301 BC |
| Value | 1 Stater = 3 Drachm (3) |
| Currency | Drachm |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 11.76 g |
| Diameter | 26 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| References |
Le Rider#
P.79, 67; Pl.19, 3, Georges Le Rider; 1977. Le monnayage d’argent et d’or de Philippe II : frappé en Macédoine de 359 à 294. Self-published, Paris, France. ISBN 9782902617012.
SvoronosCr#
Pl.14, 17 Iōannēs N. Svorōnos; 1890. Numismatique de la Crète ancienne. Protat frères, Paris, France.
|
Obverse
Europa seated half right within branches of a tree, her right hand resting on a branch below, her left arm extended before her.
Reverse
Cretan bull standing right, head facing, bee below.
Mint
Gortyn, Crete, GreeceComments
This coin type recalls the myth of Europa and the bull, an ancient story linking the Greek and Semitic worlds.
The depiction of Europa on this type is unconventional; instead of her usual appearance as a scantily-clad young woman she wears a polo (an archaic headdress which in this period was usually only associated with deities such as Hera or Artemis), and holds a bird-tipped sceptre – both symbols of royalty. These attributes suggest that her depiction here shows Europa in her station as queen of Crete rather than the young girl who was pursued by Zeus.
The tree upon which Europa sits also echoes part of the Europa and Zeus myth: a plane tree was thought to have been the location where their three children were conceived. The plane tree was thus made sacred by the Cretans and a fragment of the beliefs concerning it still survive to this day - some people in modern Gortyna still collect leaves from this tree in the hope that they will bring fertility.
The coin in the main image (11.76g, 26mm, 6h, Extremely Fine):
◦ Auctioned by Roma Numismatics Ltd, Auction XVII, 28 March 2019, Lot 431. Sold for 14,000 GBP.
◦ Auctioned by Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction IX, 22 March 2015, lot 264, Sold for 12,000 GBP.
◦ Ex Eckenheimer Collection.
See also
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| Date | VG | F | VF | XF | AU | UNC | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ND (400 BC - 301 BC) | ||||||||||||
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Numista Rarity index: 100
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This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.
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