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Stater
| Issuer | Mytilene (Lesbos) |
|---|---|
| Year | 454 BC - 427 BC |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Phocaean stater |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| 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 | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | ΜΥΤΙ |
| Reverse description | A quadripartite incuse square occupies the entire reverse field, divided by raised ridges into four recessed compartments of roughly equal size, each sunk to varying depths, creating an asymmetric play of light and shadow across the electrum surface. This deeply impressed mill-sail or swastika-like incuse pattern is the hallmark reverse type of the archaic Lesbian electrum stater series and results directly from the hammered technique used to strike the flan against a four-pronged punch. The overall design is purely geometric, with no figural motifs or inscriptions present. The flan edges are irregular and show the typical bevelled, slightly raised rim characteristic of archaic electrum coinage. |
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| Additional information |
Mytilene's electrum staters were struck as hekte fractions in a long-running civic coinage, but full staters of this period are considerably scarcer — the hekte dominated actual commerce while the stater functioned closer to a prestige or mercantile settlement piece. The natural electrum alloy sourced from the Lydian-influenced gold-silver streams meant each flan carried slight compositional variation, something ancient merchants would have weighed rather than trusted by denomination alone.
Bodenstedt 60.2 falls within the mature phase of Mytilene's electrum output, before the city's catastrophic revolt against Athens was suppressed in 427 BC — an event that nearly resulted in the execution of the entire male population on Cleon's motion.