There has been a large release of staters from Mazaios in the last couple of months. I purchased the one below: After purchasing this coin, I started seeing the same issue but with a very different look. I guess my questions are why do the coins look so different and which would be the better choice to purchase?
I also noticed the same thing with these Mazaios coins. Was a hoard of these found recently? I also noticed many Darics show up recently in CNG and other auctions. Does anyone know of a hoard of these Darics found anywhere?
tartanhill, I believe the biggest difference between the newly discovered hoard & the older coins on the market is on the reverse. The older coins have a variation of the ankh below the bull & the newer hoard have lettering. Below are photos of a stater Heritage auctioned for me 7 years ago. It sold for $1,750.00.
Thanks, Al. I do see that the coin I bought with the Aramaic letters SM below the bull is also listed as dating from 361-334 BC. So you think then that my coin was from a later hoard than yours. There are really a lot of these popping up on the auction houses, and they are offered both with the SM letters and the ankh. I really like the coin, though.
tartanhill, Most of the ones I see hitting the market recently have the lettering instead of the ankh, but don't be surprised if you see more of the older hoard of staters hitting the market too. Dealers & some collectors may be eager to sell their staters for fear of the price dropping with too many in the market. The coin you bought has an exceptionally nice reverse unlike the one I sold. The coin I sold had a very fine obverse which made it an easy sell.
I also have noticed that too! But, it seems the most common coin featured in auctions these days is the famous Athenian "Owl" Tetradrachm, seems to be an endless supply.
John, You're right about the Owls, there seems to be an endless supply of them saturating the market. Surprisingly the value of Owls hasn't crashed but they have been selling for less than they did a year ago. The auction houses that are unloading the bulk of these coins have remained "tight lipped" . The Mazaeus staters remind me of the Koson gold staters, both being classic hoard coins. Rarely do you see these coins with circulation wear. The super choice examples that are well struck on fresh dies will always bring a good price regardless how many enter the market.
Not a new hoard as far as I know. These are common coins and are always around. There was a huge hoard in the 80's of really high grade coins where most of the nice ones come from. Barry Murphy
