Catalog
See full images - free registration
Continue with Google - no registration!
or register with email
Why register? Just to keep bots out of our catalog. Your email stays private - we will never share it or send you anything uninvited. We guarantee you that!
Stater
| Issuer | Lyttos (Crete (ancient)) |
|---|---|
| Year | 320 BC - 270 BC |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| 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 | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Frontal head of a bull set within a shallow incuse square framed by a beaded border, the animal depicted in bold three-quarter view facing slightly right, with deeply modelled muzzle, open mouth revealing teeth, and prominent eyes conveying great plastic energy. Above the beaded frame, the ethnic legend ΛΥΤΤΙΩΝ is inscribed in Greek capitals reading from left to right, identifying the issuing city of Lyttos. The square incuse field, a hallmark of Aeginetic-standard coinage, provides a strong geometric foil to the vigorous naturalism of the bull's head. |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Log in to see details |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
| Mintage | ND (320 BC - 270 BC) |
| Additional information |
Lyttos was one of the most powerful poleis in ancient Crete, a fierce rival of Knossos that ultimately met a catastrophic end around 220 BC when Knossos, allied with the Gortynians, razed the city while its male citizens were away on campaign. The destruction was total enough that ancient sources treat it as an annihilation. These staters predate that event by at least half a century, struck during the city's peak autonomy and military confidence.
The type is well-documented across the major reference corpora, with die links traceable between Weber and McClean specimens.