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Stater - 106th Olympiad
| Issuer | Elis, Olympia |
|---|---|
| Year | 356 BC |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Stater = 3 Drachm |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Facing right, the idealized bust of Hera rendered in fine Classical style, wearing a narrow stephane (diadem) ornamented with a palmette and a lily blossom. The goddess's hair is elaborately dressed and flows in loose curls beneath the stephane. The portrait exhibits the serene, majestic character characteristic of Elean coinage produced for the Olympian sanctuary. The field is plain. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | F A |
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| Additional information |
The 106th Olympiad fell in 356 BC — the same year Alexander the Great was born and Philip II took Potidaea. Elis, as the custodian of the Olympian sanctuary, struck these staters in quadrennial cycles tied directly to the games, making the issue dates unusually precise for ancient Greek coinage. The BCD specimen is among the better-documented examples of the series, catalogued through the landmark Nomos sale of the BCD Peloponnesos collection in 2009.
Production was concentrated in the months surrounding the festival itself, giving this series an exceptionally tight minting window.