Stater

Historical Context: This gold stater from Smyrna, dating to 600 BC - 550 BC, represents a pivotal moment in the nascent history of coinage. Struck during the Archaic period, it falls within the era when the Lydian kingdom, particularly under kings Alyattes and Croesus, pioneered the standardized use of precious metal currency. Smyrna, a prominent Ionian Greek city, quickly adopted these innovations, issuing its own gold coinage. These early staters served not only as a medium of exchange, facilitating trade across the Aegean and Anatolia, but also as a declaration of the city's economic strength and burgeoning civic identity, preceding the widespread use of more complex anthropomorphic imagery.

Artistry: As is typical for this extremely early period, the individual engraver of this stater remains anonymous, reflecting the collective craft of Archaic Ionian workshops. The stylistic school is distinctly Archaic Greek, characterized by robust, somewhat stylized, and powerful animal depictions. The obverse design features the forepart of a lion, a common and potent symbol in Ionian art and an emblem of Smyrna itself. This depiction, often rendered with a prominent mane and open mouth, conveys strength and ferocity. The reverse typically features a simple, geometric incuse punch, a hallmark of early coinage production where a single die struck the flan into an anvil with an unengraved punch.

Technical/Grading: This gold stater, weighing 16.088 gg and measuring 21 mmmm, exhibits characteristics typical of early Archaic coinage. The fabric is often broad and somewhat irregular, reflecting the hand-striking methods of the era. Key high-points for the obverse lion forepart include the detailed strands of the mane, the musculature of the chest, and the definition of the eye and muzzle. A well-struck example will show these elements clearly, though minor softness or slight off-centering is common due to the rudimentary striking techniques. The reverse incuse punch should be deep and distinct, indicating a strong strike, though its exact shape can vary depending on the punch used.