CORINTHIA. Corinth. Circa 550-500 BC. Stater (Silver, 22 mm, 8.45 g). Pegasos flying left; below, Ϙ. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square with swastika pattern. BCD Corinth 3. Calciati 39. HGC 4, 1815. Rare. Slightly granular and with light scratches and minor areas of horn silver, otherwise, very fine.

Corinth, located on the isthmus connecting the Peloponnese to northern Greece, was likely founded by Phoenician traders but was later refounded by Aeolian Greeks, reportedly under a king named Bakchis, around 900 BC. The city was strategically positioned at the crossroads of Greece, with strong fortifications that facilitated its rapid wealth accumulation. Its control over the trade routes linking the Peloponnese to the rest of Greece contributed significantly to its prosperity. Corinth also maintained ports on both the Corinthian and Saronic Gulfs, further consolidating its trade monopoly. Moreover, it was the first Greek city to build the famous triremes - warships with three tiers of oars - that patrolled the seas and safeguarded Corinth's interests. In the latter half of the sixth century, Corinth became one of the earliest mainland Greek cities to begin minting its own coinage, with the principal type being the tridrachm stater, weighing approximately 8.6 grams (equivalent to an Athenian didrachm). The obverse featured Pegasos, the wild winged horse tamed by the city's hero, Bellerophon. This type became unique to Corinth and its colonies for many years. However, the incuse reverse design, as seen on this beautifully preserved early stater, was inspired by the coins struck on the neighboring island of Aegina. By the end of the sixth century, the incuse reverse was replaced by the head of Athena Chalinos within an incuse square, a design that, with the exception of the square, remained the standard reverse for Corinthian staters well into the third century. The Pegasos type became so closely associated with Corinth that the staters came to be known as pegasoi