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Search Advanced Search Search By Coin ID     Home ANCIENT/BYZANTINE Ancient Spain (872) Byzantine (753) MEDIEVAL/EARLY WORLD Germany (30) MODERN WORLD COUNTERFEITS AND IMITATIONS   Submit New Coin(s)   Sponsors page Terms of Service Contact Us About Us FAQ Page Coin Detail Click here to see enlarged image. ID:     80000328      [UNVERIFIED] Type:     Greek Region:     CARIA, ISLANDS OFF City:     Cos Metal:     Silver Denomination:     3 Sigloi Struck / Cast:     struck Date Struck:     BC Circa 480-475 Weight:     16.48 g Die Axis:     8 h Obverse Legend:     KΩION Obverse Description:     Diskobolos, nude, hurling diskos right; tripod to left, KΩION to right Reverse Description:     Crab in dotted square within incuse square Primary Reference:     Barron, Diskoboloi, group B, 17 (A13/P12) Reference2:     SNG Cop - Reference3:     BMC 9 Reference4:     TraitÉ II 1740; Boston MFA 2016 = Warren 1187; Ward 701; Pozzi 2648 (all from the same dies) Photograph Credit:     Classical Numismatic Group Source:     http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=132551 Grade:     Good VF, toned, a couple minor die breaks Notes:     Sale: Triton XII, Lot: 328 Extremely rare. From the W.B. and R.E. Montgomery Collection. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 2 (22 February 1990), lot 200; C. Gillet Collection (Leu & MÜnzen und Medaillen, 28 May 1974 [Kunstfreund]), lot 165; Schlessinger 13 [Hermitage] (4 February 1935), lot 1336.The early 5th century Diskoboloi of Kos represent a wonderful example of numismatic art in the early Classical period. The style is clearly archaized, more akin to earlier numismatic and figural vase representations of athletic events. Originally, in the mid-eighteenth century, scholars thought the type represented Apollo dancing beside his tripod, beating a tambourine or drum. Shortly after the turn of the century, however, more detailed analysis revealed that the scene was of an athletic event, and depicted a diskos thrower in mid-motion. Specifically, the event commemorated is thought to be the festival of Apollo at Triopion, which involved athletic events where the contestants vied for bronze tripods that the victors would subsequently dedicate to Apollo at his temple there. Only the cities of the Doric Pentapolis, Kos, Knidos, Ialysos, Lindos, and Kameiros, were invited to participate. Interestingly, none of the other cities in the Pentapolis ever depicted a scene from the festival, leading to an alternate theory that the design may refer to a local festival at Kos.

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