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Stater
| Issuer | Uncertain Ionian city |
|---|---|
| Year | 600 BC - 550 BC |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Stater (1) |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Two confronted lion heads depicted frontally and stacked vertically, joined at the forehead, rendered in bold archaic relief characteristic of early Ionian coinage. The facial details — including the pronounced muzzles, almond-shaped eyes, and stylized manes — are rendered with expressive, schematic modeling typical of the late 7th to early 6th century BC East Greek artistic tradition. The composition fills the irregularly shaped flan, with the design extending nearly to the coin's edges. No legend or inscription is present in the field. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The reverse exhibits a characteristic early electrum incuse punch design consisting of a central elongated rectangular incuse flanked by two square incuse impressions of differing sizes, all featuring irregular, rough interiors resulting from the primitive punching technique. This multi-punch arrangement is typical of early Lydian and Ionian electrum coinage of the archaic period, serving as the countermark applied by the issuing authority to authenticate the flan. No legend or additional devices are present. |
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| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
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| Mintage | Log in to see details |
| Additional information |
Electrum staters of this class present one of the most contested attribution problems in early Greek numismatics. Kraay and Hirmer's grouping acknowledges the uncertainty directly — these pieces circulated across Ionian commercial networks where the issuing authority mattered less than the metal's guaranteed fineness. The electrum itself was almost certainly sourced from the Pactolus river valley near Sardis, the same alluvial deposits that underpinned Lydian monetary experiments happening simultaneously.
Whether civic or royal, the striking authority was operating within decades of what most scholars accept as the invention of coinage itself.