Pamphilia, Side AR Stater ca. 5th Century B.C. 10.77 grams Obv: Pomegranate in beaded border. Rev: Athena right wearing Corinthian Helmet within incuse square Grade: a VF with nice strike & arcaic fabric. Athena is protected on the reverse giving the reverse claim to higher grade. Please post ‘em if you got ‘em.
The pomegranate's name in Greek was side, a pun on the name of the city, but a pun in Greek, not in the local language, so these coins were primarily for Greek speakers, no doubt merchants, according to Grainger in The Cities of Pamphylia (page 57). 23-22 mm. Stater. 10.69 grams. Side, Pamphylia. 4th C. B.C. Note the pomegranate in the left field. Athena standing left holding Nike in right and resting left on shield, vertical spear behind Apollo standing left holding up laurel branch, chlamys over shoulders, bow in left, altar in front, bird to right. Note the lettering 1:30 to 3:30 which is not Greek. Incuse rectangle at 8:30 with lion left and crescent above. Sear Greek II --, but would follow Sear Greek II 5488. SNG Copenhagen VI Pamphylia --, reverse of 372, obverse of 373. SNG France 3 641 plate 33 (much worse). Several others have Apollo with the branch and several others have Athena with Victory, but none other there has both. BMC Side --. So, this a rare combination of common obverse and reverse types. But, rarity without beauty is not so desirable in "Greek" coins. Fortunately, this one is quite attractive.
Tetradrachm of Side 200-175 B.C. Obv. Head of Athena in Corinthian style helmet Rv Nike adv l.S 5433 var
Yours is a lovely AR stater, @Collect89. Here is my 5th century Corinth stater, having a similar archaic Athena portrait.
Congrats on your large staters and tetradrachms everyone! Here is Athena on a tiny 0.15g fraction from Side. This coin is only 6mm wide. One day I hope to acquire a pomegranate/Athena stater and show them off together. Pamphylia, Side Circa 300 BC (?), Tetartemorion. 0.15g, 6mm Head of Athena right wearing a crested Corinthian helmet Roaring lion's head right Ref: Unpublished denomination? cf. SNG Von Aulock 4774 (obol), cf. SNG Paris 731-739 (= BABELON TRAITE 2,2 1583; obols) ex Solidus Numismatik, auction 32, July 2018, lot 2060 (part of)
Thanks to everyone for posting the great coins & info.....So much great information. How should we pronounce the city name Side in English? Is it /sīd/ like the "side" of the house or is it like "seed" or "seed-ay" ?
