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Stater - 106th Olympiad
| Issuer | Sanctuary of Zeus, Olympia |
|---|---|
| Year | 356 BC |
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| Reference(s) | BCD Olympia#130, Seltman Temple#313, SNG Delepierre#2168, HGC 5#372 |
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| Reverse description | An eagle stands in three-quarter left-facing posture with its head turned sharply to the right, rendered with close attention to feather detail across the breast and wing. The bird is depicted in a static, heraldic stance with talons firmly planted. The entire design is enclosed within a circular wreath of olive branches, the sacred plant of Olympia, whose sinuous sprays frame the eagle on all sides. The composition is well-centred and reflects the authoritative civic and religious coinage associated with the quadrennial Olympic festival at Elis. |
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| Mint | Olympia (Elis) |
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| Additional information |
The Sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia struck coins primarily during Olympic years, and 356 BC marks the 106th Olympiad — the same year Alexander the Great was born, Philip II received news of his victory at Potidaea, and his racehorse won at the Games themselves. Whether the Macedonian king actually handled this issue is unknowable, but it was minted into precisely that moment of Argead ascendancy.
Seltman's die study remains the foundational reference for this series, and the BCD collection sale in 2004 produced the most rigorously sequenced auction record for Olympian staters assembled to date.