The city-state of Corinth in Ancient Greece was one of the largest and most important cities in antiquity, rivalling the wealth of Athens and Thebes in the Classical period. Before losing the market to Athens in the mid-sixth century BC, Corinth was the major exporter of painted pottery, particularly black-figure pottery. As with many ancient cities, there are many variations of its foundation myth, with Pausanias reporting that the city was founded by Corinthos, a descendant of the god Zeus. The Peirene spring, located upon the Acrocorinth, the acropolis of Corinth, was, according to legend, where Bellerophon captured and tamed Pegasus, as it drank from the spring. Perhaps due to this myth, the city-state of Corinth adopted the Pegasus on its coinage with the Ϙ (koppa) below. Originally standing for Ϙόρινθος, the Doric Greek name spelling for the city, the archaic letter koppa (Ϙ) became a symbol for the city in the Classical period, as it was replaced by the letter kappa (K) in the Classical Greek alphabet.
Corinthian Silver Stater
£ 940.00
An extremely fine Ancient Greek silver stater, from the city of Corinth in Corinthia. The obverse of the coin presents Pegasus flying left, with Ϙ (koppa) below. The reverse displays the head of Athena, facing right, wearing a Corinthian helmet with a long, curving neck guard, from which curls of hair extend out. Behind the head of Athena, a bucranium and N features in the left field.
Condition: Extremely fine. Fine grey tone. Signs of wear as consistent with age, such as minor scratches.
In stock
| Weight | 8.33 g |
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| Dimensions | L 2.1 cm |
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