Samos (BC 600-570) EL Stater

ca 600-570 BC. EL Stater (17.22g). Uncertain design against a background of heavy filling ornament / Two parallel oblong incuse punches with irregular markings. VF. Ex Leu 77 (5/2000), lot 310. 

The types of the early electrum of Samos are varied. The Samians had a unique style of coinage, with the central type placed against an amorphic patterned background. Various decriptions have been offered for the types-eagles, flowers, panthers, thunderbolts, etc. This cataloguer sees a flowering plant with two leaves, and a panther facing left below. The use of background ornament somewhat resembles the geometric patterns used as filling ornament on Corinthian pottery.