Stater - Artabazos

Historical Context: This gold stater, dated 356 BC, was issued under Artabazos II, the powerful Achaemenid Satrap of Hellespontine Phrygia, from Lampsakos. Its production reflects the significant autonomy and economic might wielded by satraps in the late Achaemenid period. Lampsakos, a strategic city on the Hellespont, served as a crucial base for Artabazos' military and political endeavors. The issuance of high-value gold coinage was a clear assertion of his authority, likely financing his frequent rebellions and alliances.

Artistry: The coin exhibits the refined Late Classical Greek style, characteristic of the finest mints in Asia Minor. While the engraver remains anonymous, the artistry points to a highly skilled master. The obverse typically features a finely rendered head of a goddess, often Demeter or the local nymph Lampsake, adorned with a wreath or diadem. The reverse commonly depicts a Persian horseman, often galloping, sometimes wielding a bow or spear, a potent symbol of Persian power within a Hellenic artistic idiom.

Technical/Grading: This stater, weighing 8.44 grams and measuring 16 mm, demonstrates the typical robust fabric of gold issues from Lampsakos. High-points for wear or strike weakness include the goddess's hair and wreath on the obverse, and the rider's head, limbs, and horse's musculature on the reverse. Known examples generally exhibit a strong, centered strike on a broad flan, ensuring excellent relief and crispness of detail, reflecting Achaemenid-influenced minting standards.