TOP TEN ANCIENT GREEK COINS

In 2008, Whitman Publishing released 100 Greatest Ancient Coins by long-time Chicago coin dealer Harlan J. Berk. Now in its third edition, this large-format book has proven to be a valuable resource for classical numismatists. The choice of coins and their ranking were based on a survey of museum curators, classical scholars, dealers, and collectors. Thirty-eight of the coins were Roman; six were Byzantine; and the rest were loosely categorized as "Greek", including some Phoenician, Carthaginian, and Judean issues. This article reviews our ten top-rated ancient Greek coins from Berk's list.

Athens Dekadrachm
A dekadrachm is a ten-drachma piece, weighing about 43 grams. This amount of silver represented ten days' wages for an ancient Greek laborer. Not part of the regular circulating coinage, dekadrachms were special issues commemorating significant events.

 

Athens Dekadrachm – circa 467-465, 42.53 g. Extremely rare and one of the finest specimens of the few in private hands. – Numismatica Ars Classica Auction 114 6 May 2019- Lot: 186

Unfortunately, we rarely know what these events were. Athens controlled one of the most productive silver mines in the ancient world, at Laurion, about 50 km (31 miles) south of the city.

"Hoard finds and other research has since shown conclusively that these coins did not appear until after the Battle of Salamis [September, 480 BCE], leading other writers to suggest that the coins were minted to celebrate that victory. However, this date also seems a bit too early, as the hoard evidence seems to place the minting of the coins in the 460s BCE."

Coin dealer Bruce McNall in his autobiography describes his encounter with this coin, at the Zurich office of famous German numismatist, Leo Mildenberg (1913- 2001):

Resting in the center of the velvet lined tray was a silver decadrachm of Athens.

About 40 examples are known, including one broken half. The coin on display in the numismatic museum of Athens is mounted on a slowly rotating motorized stand so visitors can view both sides.

On Berk's list this type is rated as #2 among the 100 greatest ancient coins.

Euainetos Dekadrachm
Toward the end of fifth century BCE, the art of coin die engraving reached a peak of excellence among ancient Greek cities of Sicily that would not be matched again until the 18th century in Europe.

 

SYRACUSE DEKADRACHM of EUAINETOS. Time of Dionysios I, circa 405-400 BCE. – Roma Numismatics Ltd Auction 8 28 September 2014 Lot: 114

Cities competed to have their coins designed by famous master engravers, who sometimes signed their work in almost microscopic letters.

Euainetos was among the greatest of these artisans, and the dekadrachm of Syracuse, struck c. 405-400 BCE, is considered his masterpiece. On the obverse four galloping horses draw a chariot while Nike, the winged goddess of Victory soars overhead. The reverse bears the head of Arethusa, the nymph who presided over the city's vital fresh water spring, surrounded by four swimming dolphins.

On Berk's list this type is rated as #3 among the greatest ancient coins.

To read the complete article, see:
Top Ten Ancient Greek Coins (https://coinweek.com/top-ten-ancient-greek-coins/)

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