Kaunos, Caria (Series I - Aegina overstrike)
[B]Kaunos, Caria (490-470 BC.)
AR Stater[/B]
[u]Obv[/u]: Winged female deity running right with winged feet and arms outstretched, facing left; understrike signs of Aeginetan sectioned incuse.
[u]Rev[/u]: Conical baetyl in incuse square; Aeginetan turtle understrike remains.
[u]Attribution[/u]: cf. K. Konuk, "The Early Coinage of Kaunos," Studies Price, 206, Pl.47,13 (O11/R10).
[u]Provenance[/u]: ex. eCNG 165 (#39), 5.30.07
[u]Weight[/u]: 11.93 gm
[u]Maximal Diameter[/u]: 19 mm
[u]Axis[/u]: 12
[u]Note[/u]: The obverse on this coin most closely resembles die noted in Konuk as Pl. 47, 13 (O11/R10), of which only one example is listed by Konuk (sold 1995, G. Hirsch 186, lot #367). More importantly, this coin may represent a rare glimpse into the minting methods of the earliest of Kaunos coinage and the relatively rare Series I staters. There are signs on both the obverse and reverse of overstriking that appear to fit with evidence presented initially by Robinson in 1936 and commented upon subsequently by Gale et al. (1980) and Konuk (1989). Of particular pertinence, Konuk writes:
"Three of our coins (Asyut 673, 680, & 685) had lead isotopic compositions characteristic of Laurion and very well defined 'normal' Laurion chemical compositions, with no added copper. Laurion mines were a major source of silver for the issues of Aegina. Asyut 672 and 684 have a chemical profile which likewise corresponds with the third main source of silver postulated for Aeginetan coins. These results led Gale et al. (1980) to suggest that the mint for the Kaunos coins was more probably located in Caria than at Mallos, and that it could have used Aeginetan coins for the silver for the earliest of Kaunos issues. This assumption is supported by a stater of Aegina overstruck by Kaunos (see Robinson, NC. 1936). One suspects that a more careful and direct examination of early Kaunian coins will reveal other overstrikes on Aeginetan coins."
The possible linkage of Aeginetan and early Kaunos issues is of numismatic and historical importance. This coin is one of two known coins (Robinson held the other) to support the Gale et al. (1980) metalurgical data for a connection between Aegina silver and early Carian minting techniques.
[I]For discussion of the mythological significance of the figure and baetyl on this coin, please refer to the other winged carians in my collection.[/I]
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Gale, N.H., Genther, W., & Wagner, W. (1980). Mineralogical and geographical silver sources of archaic greek coinage. In D.M. Metcalf & W.A. Oddy (Eds.), Metallurgy in Numismatics, Vol. I (pg. 27-46). London.
Konuk, K. (1998). The early coinage of Kaunos. In R. Ashton & S. Hurter (Eds.), Studies in Greek Numismatics in Memory of Martin Jessop Price (pg. 197-223). Spink: London.
Robinson, E.S.G. (1935). A find of archaic coins from Southwest Asia Minor. Numismatic Chronicle, pp. 265-280.
GK257
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