Abydos (BC 470-450) AV Stater

ca 410 BC. AV Stater (8.58g). ABYΔ/HNON (the lower part of the legend retrograde), eagle standing left / Gorgoneion facing, within an incuse square. Light scrape on reverse edge at 5 o’clock. VF/gVF. Unique and of great importance. Ex ‘Kunstfreund’ Coll., Bank Leu AG & Münzen und Medaillen AG (Zurich, 5/1974), lot 161; ex Monnaies et Médailles SA, Auc. 53 (Basel, 11/1977), lot 92.

Abydos was a colony of Miletos, situated on the Hellespont, and was perhaps an early location of the minting of electrum staters in the sixth century B.C. The city had been part of the Athenian empire during the fifth century until it revolted in 411 B.C., becoming a Spartan ally. This incredible gold stater, the only known example, is of the highest numismatic importance.