MDC Monnaies de Collection
162
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ANCIENT GREECE - GREEK
See original version (French)
162
-
ANCIENT GREECE - GREEK
See original version (French)
Estimate €300
Voluntary lot
Description
ANCIENT GREECE - GREEK
Lydia, Croesus (561–546 BC). 1/12th of a silver stater, ND (560–545 BC), Sardis.
Obverse: Lion’s protome facing right, mouth open, opposite a bull’s protome on the left.
Reverse: Hollow square.
SNG Von Aulock 2880 – SNG Kayhan 1020; Silver – 0.82 g – 8.2 mm – 12 h
Acquired at the Leuven numismatic fair in 2004.
The recess is empty and deeply struck. Well centred on the obverse. Very good condition.
Croesus was the first to mint coins of pure gold. His kingdom represented the last bastion against the westward expansion of the Persian Empire. Encouraged by a prophecy from the Oracle of Delphi, which promised that he would destroy a great empire if he attacked it, he went to war against Cyrus the Great and was defeated. Although his army outnumbered the enemy, it was annihilated, and Sardis, the capital, was captured by Cyrus. Croesus and his family were put to death on Cyrus’s orders. Lydia became a satrapy of the Persian Empire but continued to mint its own coins. Croesus’s legendary wealth was used by Cyrus to mint a new Persian gold coin, the daric.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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