PAMPHYLIA. Aspendos. Circa 380/75-330/25 BC. Stater (Silver, 23 mm, 10.91 g, 12 h). Two nude wrestlers, standing and grappling with each other; between them, BΛ. Rev. EΣTFEΔIIYΣ Slinger standing right, about to shoot from his sling; to right, triskeles running left; all within shallow incuse square. SNG Copenhagen -. SNG Paris -. SNG PFPS 5 var. (triskeles to right). SNG von Aulock -. Tekin Series 4. A spectacular piece, fresh and with beautiful iridescent toning. Very light doubling on the reverse, otherwise, good extremely fine.


In the Greek cultural world, sports was considered a most noble pastime, and wrestling was a particularly beloved discipline. The two main ways to beat one's opponent were to grab and lift him by the waist, or to grab his wrist to pull him off-balance, as shown on the obverse of this wonderful stater. The reverse, on the other hand, shows one of the most feared military weapons of the ancient world: the sling. Able to crush bone and penetrate armor, skilled slingers were a menace on the battlefield and therefore coveted mercenaries - a fact the Aspendians understood and celebrated.