Pamphylia, Aspendus AR Stater (c. 380–325 BC) Wrestlers & Slinger Design – NGC Choice XF

Struck in the ancient city of Aspendus in Pamphylia, this remarkable silver stater captures the athletic and martial spirit of the Classical Greek world. Aspendus, situated near the southern coast of modern-day Turkey, was a prosperous city famed for its artistry and commerce. Its coinage, particularly the wrestling and slinger types, circulated widely across the Mediterranean and today ranks among the most admired of all Greek issues. Produced during the late 4th century BC, these coins reflect a society that prized both athletic excellence and military prowess—the twin pillars of Greek civic identity.

The obverse depicts two nude wrestlers locked in competition, their muscular forms rendered with striking anatomical realism. Between them, the letters “EΣ” often appear, representing an abbreviation of the city’s name in the Pamphylian dialect. This design celebrates the athletic contests central to Greek culture, possibly even referencing the famous games held at Aspendus itself. On the reverse, a slinger prepares to launch his stone, poised in dramatic tension with one leg forward and arm raised. To the right appears the triskeles, a three-legged emblem of motion and strength, serving as the city’s proud civic symbol.

This example exhibits superb preservation for the type, graded Choice XF by NGC with attractive silver tone and fine surface detail. Both obverse and reverse are well-centered with clear, deep relief. The artistry of the figures remains vivid—the slinger’s taut stance and the wrestlers’ interlocked forms testify to the engraver’s understanding of anatomy and motion. These staters were hand-struck, and few survive with such even strikes and integrity of surface, particularly at a weight of 10.81 grams, near full standard.

A masterpiece of Classical numismatic art, the Aspendus stater bridges the world of sport and warfare in one of antiquity’s most powerful visual metaphors. Its design inspired later coinages throughout Asia Minor and remains a cornerstone for collectors of ancient Greek silver.

The coin pictured is the exact coin you will receive