Greek Coins

Ancient Greek coins for sale
(including "Oriental Greek": Persis, Parthian, Sasanian, etc.)
Skip down to silver or AE.

TERMS: Prices are in brackets: [$xx]. I accept PayPal and Zelle (which I prefer in the US--here is why) and checks and cash. Postage in the US is $2 for orders up to $25, $3 for orders up to $50, $4 for orders up to $100, and an additional $2 for each hundred thereafter. Usually an additional $3 to other countries. From other countries I prefer TransferWise. Here is why: http://augustuscoins.com/TW.html . More-detailed terms of sale are here.
After I confirm by e-mail that I still have the coin, you can pay by logging into your account and sending PayPal or Zelle payment to my e-mail address.
To order, or to ask any questions, e-mail me, Warren, at: e-mail

What's new? 2023, June 11: Most prices on this Greek page reduced.
2023, May 21: Octopus coin moved here.
2023, Feb. 25: Almost every price on this page reduced.
2022, Dec. 13: An Aspendos stater added and almost all prices reduced.
2022, Dec. A few moved to the top from the main page. Many sold coins removed.
2022, June 24: Tiny Greek silver from Kolophon.
2022, June 22: Two Ptolemiac (at the top)
2022, June 20: Ancient imitation from Commagene of Demetrios I, Soter (Seleucid King, 162-150 BC)
2021, Oct. 22: Indo Greek, Hatra (at the top). On this page much has been rearranged and some repriced.
Sept. 18: Almost every coin on this page has its price reduced. (The main and Byzantine pages, too.)
2021, May 30: Oriental Greek, Hephthalite 1/4 drachm, at the top.
2021, April 22: Obol of Alexander the Great, on the main page.
2021, March 12: Pantikapion (sold)

Go down to: Newest first. Then high quality, then silver, silver fractions, AE, Jewish, Oriental Greek.

Especially remarkable: One of the very first portrait coins (with a published pedigree); PHOENICIA, Sidon `Abd`aštart (Straton) II dishekel; Very rare King Mithrades III of Commagene; facing bust AE of Troas.

Syracuse, Sicily.
12-11 mm. 1.77 grams.
c. 435-415 BC
Head of Arethusa right
Octopus

Hoover HC Sicily 1434, page 373.
Sear Greek 1184 variety (that one is a 3-unkia piece; this one is smaller)
ex Holding History with their ticket.
[$59, reduced to $55 SOLD]

Mygdones or Krestones (Thraco-Macedonian tribes)
Previously attributed to Aegae, Thrace
before 490 BC
11 mm. 0.84 grams. Diobol.
Goat left, head back
four-part incuse square
New attribution: Hoover HGC 3.1 #368.
Older attributions: SNG ANS 7 Macedonia 1, plate 3, #65.
Kraay, Archaic and Classical, p. 141 [490]
Sear Greek 1293v (has the goat in the other direction)
ex. F. J. Rath list 1/19/1972, lot 290
and with my ticket. Nicely centered. [$85, reduced to $69]

Tiny! 7-6 mm and only 0.38 grams.
Hemiobol.
Kolophon, Ionia
Late 6th C. B.C. OLD
Archaic head of Apollo left
Four-part incuse square.
Klein --, 339 is half the weight. SNG Kayhan 342
Sear Greek --. Rosen --, but 386 is half the weight (0.19 grams)
[$45, reduced to $39] (Compare, as always, to vcoins prices)
A small Greek fraction.

Indo-Greek
27-26 mm.
Kushan Kadphises Ic. 100-127 AD AD
King
Siva and bull
[$85, reduced to $59]

King Mithrades III of Commagene
20 BC - 12 AD (contemporary of Augustus)
18 mm. 6.94 grams.
crab (probably astrological)
BAME
M•TOY
•M•
(BAsileus)ME(glon)
M(ithradates)TOY
M(ithradates)
Alram 249 page 84.
(Sullivan, on Commagne, gives this to Mithradates II, not III)
BMC -- but has discussion under Galatia of the Kingdom and its concern about astrology
MunzZentrum 73 (1992 April 22) had one, lot 1044 "sehr selten". F. Imhof-Blumer ZfN 1874, page 332. If you want one of each Greek king, here is one of the most obscure Kings and you won't find a portrait piece! (or, any piece at all except this one) [$245, reduced to $225, reduced to $185] Very rare. If you collect one of each Greek king, bookmark this page, look around for a while, and come back when you have convinced yourself you don't find another one.

Panticipaion, Panticapaeum, 4th C. BC. Fabulous Art!
A city on the north Black Sea coast where the Sea of Azov meets the Black Sea.

Spectacular!
First note this coin is 27.7-27.1 mmm, and this type often comes only 24-25 mm. 12.17 grams. Large.
MacDonald 59. Anokhin 110 (only 26 mm.)
Lovely light green patina (slightly darker green than my photo), not tooled or smoothed, as so many of these are, but with some flaking,
Virtually no wear. Nice centering. Full and clear legend. Search auction-results sites and you can see these in the 600-800-euro (+ fees) range.
Look at the portrait of Pan! Artwork worthy of a gold coin. [$395, reduced to $339] Wonderful!

Greek Silver (Larger than hemidrachms. Tiny fractions are further below):

Lucania, Metapontion (Metapontum) c. 340-330 BC.
Silver. 23-20 mm. 7.34 grams.
Head of founder of Metapontion, Leukippos right, helmeted
(Some of this type actually have his name down behind the helmet, but this one does not.)
Ear of grain upright. META up the left.
HN Italy 1555, plate 28.
Sear Greek I --, it would be after 415, page 47.
You can pay 1750 euros for a better one on vcoins. [$195, reduced to $149]

Lycia, Phaselis. mid 5th C. BC.
13 mm. 3.40 grams.
Prow of galley right, resembling the forepart of a boar.
slender stern of a galley ΦAΣ above (for Phaselis)
all within incuse square
Sear Greek 5330. SNG von Aulock 4995. "5th C."
BMC -- but type resembles #3, plate 16.7 "before c. 466 BC"
Ships! [$159, reduced to $75]

[$85, reduced to $69] Ionia, Miletos.
Tetraobol. 14 mm. 2.365 grams.
Apollo head right, laureate
Lion standing right, looking back
Sear Greek Coins 4513 "75 pounds" (in 1979)
(Compare to the $695 one on vcoins.)

Aspendos, 465-430 BC. Here are a few formerly-rare staters of the first issue from Aspendos in Pamphylia (in Turkey). These are from a recent hoard. The coins are all remarkably thick. Silver staters c. 19 mm and c. 10.8 grams. Did you think you could get a thick stater from c. 465-430 B.C. for under $100? Archaic! Old!

c. 465-430 B.C. The very first issue of Aspendos (Aspendus, Pamphylia, Turkey)
Silver stater. 18 mm. 10.95 grams.
Very thick (5 mm) archaic flan.
Hoplite warrior with spear and shield right
Triskeles of three human legs running right.

SNG France 3, #1 (the very first type of Aspendos) c. 465-430 BC.
Sear Greek 5381. A hefty chuck of archaic silver. I find it amazing that you can buy an archaic silver stater from well before 400 BC for only [$97] $97 for a stater!
Compare to this auction example:  https://www.romanumismatics.com/189-lot-317-pamphylia-aspendos-ar-stater?auction_id=46&view=lot_detail
or this one:  https://www.romanumismatics.com/189-lot-318-pamphylia-aspendos-ar-stater?auction_id=46&view=lot_detail

I have a web page on this type:  http://augustuscoins.com/ed/interesting/triskeles.html

c. 465-430 B.C. A variety of the very first issue of Aspendos
(Aspendus, Pamphylia, Turkey)
Silver stater. 18 mm. 10.82 grams.
Very thick (6 mm) archaic flan.
Hoplite warrior with spear and shield right
Triskeles of three human legs running right.
SNG France 3, #1v (the very first type of Aspendos) variety with a club before the triskeles. c. 465-430 BC. They don't have this variety. acsearch has many of the basic type (There was a hoard that catapulted this type from rare to common) but none with the club.  vcoins has examples from the hoard, but none with the club.
Sear Greek 5381. A hefty chuck of archaic silver. I find it amazing that you can buy a rare (unique?) archaic silver stater from well before 400 BC for only [$155, reduced to $115 SOLD]

Pamphlyia, Aspendos
465-430 BC
(Later the city has the well-known Slinger and wrestlers type)
Thick silver 20-19 mm. 10.95 grams.

Hoplite warrior right holding spear horizontal and shield in left, turtle between legs
Triskeles (three human legs running)
lion standing left behind lower leg [What an interesting type!]
EΣT which abbreviates in Greek the city name in the Pamphylian language--ESTEFΔIIYI (for "Estwediiys") all well-centered in an incuse square
A very old dumpy thick archaic coin! Very nice triskeles and lion. [$355, reduced to $325]

Satrap of Caria. Hidrieus, 351-344 BC.
12-10 mm. Small coin. 1.71 grams. Hemidrachm.
Mint: Halikarnassos
Apollo head 3/4 facing right
Zeus Labraundos standing right holding labrys (double ax) and spear, to right, downwards letters spelling the satrap's name: IΔPIEΩΣ (barely visible)

Sear Greek 4961 SNG von Aulock 2369 (This bust is better than von Aulock's). Very nice facing bust. [$135, reduced to $89]

Cilicia, obol.
9 mm. 0.50 grams.
Mint city uncertain, possibly Mallos or Tarsos according to Levante
facing female head, slightly left
Bes facing (a remarkably ugly god)
Wikipedia says, "Ancient Egyptian deity worshipped as a protector of households and, in particular, of mothers, children and childbirth. Bes later came to be regarded as the defender of everything good and the enemy of all that is bad."
SNG Levante 233. SNG France 2 (Cilicie) 486.
[$79, reduced to $49]

Cilicia,
9-8 mm. 0.18 grams. Very small.
Horseman right with cape flying behind
Athena standing right, vertical scepter in left, left arm resting on shield.
SNG Levante 256 is this type but 0.36 grams. "Possibly 4th C. B.C."
Rare [$59, reduced to $26]

Ionia, Miletos
late 6th - early 5th C. BC
9-8 mm. Small. 1.21 grams.
Lion's head right, roaring.
Stellate pattern.
SNG Turkey I 464. Sear Greek 3552
[$23, reduced to $19]

Caria, uncertain city before 440 BC [Keckman]
confronted foreparts of two bulls
bull forepart left
7 mm. 0.28 grams. Small!
SNG Finland Keckman Karia I 914.
SNG Turkey I 968 "Milesian standard tetartemorion"
Sera Greek -- (might fit after 4949)
Three bulls on one coin! Rough surfaces. [$45, reduced to $19]

Ionia, uncertain city
7 mm. Silver. 0.36 grams. (Hemiobol)
Helmeted head of Athena right/star of four rays with dots in between
cf.https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/ae...mint_circa_350bc_hemiobol/547339/Default.aspx

See also Gorny & Mosch 176 lot 1246.
[$15, reduced to $13]

Uncertain Lycian Dynast
10 mm. Small. 0.56 grams.
ex Hirsch auction 205, 22-25 Sept. 1999, lot 408
PR 102 DM. "RRRR" "480-440 BC"
Very weak lion's scalp facing(?)
head in crested Corinthian helmet right
[$75, reduced to $49] Illustrated auction pedigree to 1999. In the US only I'll include the Hirsch auction-sale catalog which illustrates this coin and has over 1000 ancient coins and some antiquities]

Greek AE:

Ionia, Chios.
31 mm. Halved in antiquity.
Sphinx right
Time of Trajan or Hadrian (98-138). Ae Triassarion. Obv: ΤΡΙΑ ΑССΑΡΙΑ [Much off this half flan]. Sphinx seated right, resting forepaw upon prow to right. Rev: Asklepios on right [off the flan], leaning upon serpent-entwined staff, and Dionysios, pouring cantharus and holding thyrsus, standing facing; altar between them; star in exergue. cf RPC III 1907. The halved coin has far more lettering, so the RPC number is not right. It is much like Hunter 221.6284 which has bad style.
PRs for the full type are up to $2300 and often c. $400.
Being halved is interesting. If the denomiantion was too large, cut it in half! However, it reduces the value, so the price reflects that. [$95, reduced to $65]

Carteia, Spain
1st C. B.C.
Looks like spikey hair, but is probably a turretted crown.
18 mm. 4.71 grams.
Cupid riding right on a dolphin. DD below.
RPC I 116.
Cute head [$19, reduced to $16]

Thessalian League (Confederacy)
Late second - early first century B.C.
18 mm.
Head of Apollo rt.
Athena standing right with spear and shield

[$35, reduced to $19] Lovely patina.
Seleucid King Alexander II Zabinas BCE 128-122
Hoover 1178 (R2!)
SC 2243
16 mm. Small "bottlecap" flan. (Ragged is intentional)
Elephant head right/eagle standing left

[$59, reduced to $33] Lokri-Epizephyrii, Bruttium, Italy c. 300-268 BC
a colony of Corinth
17 mm.
Athena helmeted left
winged thunderbolt
ΛOKPΩN
filleted thyrsus (Staff of Dionysos or his followers)
Sear Greek --, SNG Copenhagen I Italy 1174
none on vcoins as I write.

Kyme, Aeolis. c. 250 BC [according to BMC] AE15. 3.29 grams. BNC Aeolis, Cyme 57. Kyme (Amazon) right/horse forepart right. [$25, reduced to $19]

Jewish: Coins of the Roman Procurators of Judaea. "Biblical" coins of the jews.

[sold]

Oriental Greek

Parthian

[sold]

Persis

Five coins of Persis, a kingdom in southern Iran at the time of the Parthians.
See my site for more about it: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Persis/.
There is an excellent very well-illustrated book on its coins by van't Haaff which is free in pdf form at the CNG site:
https://cngcoins.com/Digital+Publications+Archive.aspx

Persis

Persis, Darius I a.k.a Darayan I
First century BC
Drachm. 4.17 grams.
Bearded head right
Fire altar
Alram 551 as "unknown King I" (which some scholars still prefer) but reattributed to
Darius I (Darayan I) by van't Haaff, 557.
[$249, reduced to $195]

Persis. Darius II (Darayan II)
First century BC
17 mm. 3.93 grams.
His bust left
Fire altar on left, king facing it on right, inscription in Aramaic in a square around.
van't Haaff 564.1-2. Alram 564. Sear Greek 6206
Well-centered portrait. Big nose! [$149, reduced to $119]

Persis. King Vahsir (son of Darius II)
Obol. 9 mm. 0.60 grams.
Bust of king left, monogram behind
Fire altar
van't Haaff 584, Alram 584. Sear Greek --
[$69, reduced to $49]

Persis. King Pakor
Obol. 11 mm. 0.62 grams.
His bust left
triskeles and legend

van't Haaff 598. Sear Greek Imperial -- but cf. 5943
[$59, reduced to $45]

Persis. "Prince Y"
Obol. 11-10 mm. 1.05 grams.
His bust left
diadem
van't Haaff 619.1
Sear Greek Imperial 5956
None on vcoins or MA-Shops.
Nicely centered and toned [$95, reduced to $59]

Sasanian and related types:

Hephthalite Huns
Mitchner says 475-560/575 AD
23 mm. 2.55 grams. Clipped.
Coins and History of Asia, page 4 "trident crown type" Gobl Hunnen emission 257
Mitchner -- but cf. page 236 #1538, Brahmi legend, but different.
Remarkably good silver.
(On this type the reverse is almost always very weak) [$69, reduced to $59 SOLD]

Sasanian style coin
Copper. 25 mm. 2.26 grams.
I don't have a ID for it. I hope someone is an expert on Sasanian and related coins and actually knows what it is in detail.
Very rare. The coin is slightly darker, more toned, in color than the photo.
[$95, reduced to $55]

20 mm. 1.58 grams.
I bought it as an oddity in 2009 from David Liebert of the Time Machine.
I have been told by an expert it is Gobl Em. 263 (Gobl's example is holed and filled), a Khusro I imitation, heavily clipped. I hope you know more than I do about it!
Mitchner Islam --, Mitchner ACW --

[$39, reduced to $22] (less than I paid for it in 2009)

Sasananian

Sasanian King Ardashir I (224-241), AE 8 chalkoi.
AE 27 mm. 9.40 grams
Ardashir facing his son Shapur I
Fire altar
Göbl, VII/220 "unit". Mitchner ACW, 807-808; Sellwood 11. Very rare.
Two on vcoins as I write, each much less nice, at $295 and $345. A third in terrible shape with no facial details at all, at $125. Better than any acsearch example for details, especially the portraits, and with lots of corrosion which other examples also have.
This one. Rare. [$185, reduced to $125] The New York Sale "Sunrise" example in F without corrosion was estimated at $1000.
Compare with
https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/cyrus_coins/28/product/item_20190_sasanian_ancient_persia_ardeshir_ardashir_i_ad_224242_rare_ae8units_gobl_type_vii2_paruck_63_saeedi_76_sunrise_727_very_fine/1324610/Default.aspx?ct=t(EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2021_03_12_twih_COPY_02)

Sasanian King Shapur II, 309-379
(Julian II died during a battle against him)
22 mm. The smaller size. 3.69 grams. Drachm.
Bust right.

Fire altar and two attendants.

Sellwood 28. Gobl 14.
[$75, reduced to $55]

Sasanian King Peroz = Firuz. 459-484
27 mm. 4.13 grams.
Third crown, 467-484
Mint WH = VH = Veh Ardashir = Seleucia
Sellwood 49, page 127. Gobl 51.
Boldly struck with fewer weak spots than most. Nicely centered.
A very nice example. [$59, reduced to $43]

Sasanian King Khavad I, 488-496 and 498-531,Second reign.
27 mm. 3.57 grams.double border on reverse
Mint mint be Ray (Sellwood 52)
The date mint be "4" but see Sellwood page 38ff.
Gobl 189-190
Peus auction catalog 363 (Gobl collection) type of #5311
Types with a double border are unusual. [$85, reduced to $63]

Hephthelite Huns
25 mm. 2.65 grams.
c. late 5th - early 6th century
Mitchner ACW 1451-1452 have different contermarks
Markov said the countermarks are the "Chaganian tamgha" and a Baktrian word "choko" or "chono". See the Asian coin website under Peroz.
Cites Gobl Hunnen 283 variety.
[$79, reduced to $47]

[See some near the top of this page]

Bukhara, Kingdom of Sogdiana
25 mm. Thin like a Sasanian drachm.
c. 8th C.
Calif al Mahdi
Mitchner 1395 "AH 158-169" AD 770-785
Bokharin style bust right with Bokharan legend in Sogdian script
Bunar Hub k'ay
(Great Lord of Bukhara)
Stylized fire altar and attendents (imitating Sasanian types)
[$49. reduced to $37]

Hephthalite. 1/4 drachm. Some call it a half, but it is both lighter and baser than their drachms.
"c. 460-560/576" according to Mitchner ACW page 232
AE16. 1.82 grams. (Not super thin.)
Napki Malik type.
Bust right/a few dots and lines
Rare. [$25, reduced to $20]
Mitchner 1495

Hephthalite. 1/4 drachm. Some call it a half, but it is both lighter and baser than their drachms.
"c. 460-560/576" according to Mitchner ACW page 232
AE16-15. 1.43 grams.
Napki Malik type.
Bust right/a few dots and lines
Rare. Black. Good for type. The reverse, which is degenerate, is far bolder and better than most. The obverse looks like the usual drachm, but this is much smaller. [$39, reduced to $29]
Mitchner 1495

This page above: Newest first. Then High Quality. Then Greek silver, Greek AE, Jewish, Oriental Greek.

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