Commentary on this group Staters Third staters Obols
Commentary on this group
The coins included in Group 1 represent the early phase of Holmoi’s coinage, which is evidenced by their fabric and artistic level. The coin images on the obverse, i.e. the dismounting rider and the forepart of Pegasus, were taken from coins of Kelenderis. The second possibility, that Kelenderis took these subjects from Holmoi, is unlikely for two reasons. First, Holmoi was a minor city compared to Kelenderis, and second, the weight standard of these coins is lower than that of early Kelenderis issues, see the weight analysis of Holmoi staters. The reverse theme of a ship’s stern is in any case specific to Holmoi and does not appear on the coins of Kelenderis.
This group can be divided into two subgroups. The first subgroup consists of staters of Type 1.1, which probably represent the very first coin issue. These coins are characterised by a very crude execution of the obverse, a deep “rounded rectangle” incuse on the reverse, and the placement of the ship’s stern along the longer side of the incuse. The second subgroup consists of staters of Type 1.2, third staters of Type 1.3 and obols of Type 1.4. A common feature of coins from this second subgroup is a square incuse with rounded corners on the reverse, in the diagonal of which is placed the ship’s stern. The artistic level of the coins of this second subgroup is clearly higher than that of the coins of the first subgroup.
For an iconographic description of the ships shown on the reverses of the coins in this group, see Section Ships on early Holmoi coins.
Staters
| Type 1.1 | |
| Denomination: | AR Stater |
| Obverse: | Nude rider, holding reins in left hand and whip in right, dismounting from horse rearing to right; dotted border. | |
| Reverse: | Stern of ship to left; all within deep incuse. | |
| Variants: | a. | rev.: anepigraphic |
| b. | rev.: above stern, ΟΛΜΙ | |
| References: | a. | Nomos AG, Auction 19 (17 November 2019), Lot 175 (acsearch.info URL) |
| b. | Several specimens on the market, e.g. Roma Numismatics Limited, Auction 19 (26 March 2020), Lot 563 (acsearch.info URL) | |
| Die links: | All known specimens are struck from the same obverse and reverse dies. The only difference is that the variant 1.1a does not yet have the ethnic on the reverse. Therefore, the variant 1.1a must have preceded the variant 1.1b in time and represents the early state of the dies. See the die analysis Holmoi, Staters – Group 1. | |
| Credit (see the references above): | ||
| a. | Nomos AG | |
| b. | Roma Numismatics Limited | |
| Type 1.2 | |
| Denomination: | AR Stater |
| Obverse: | Youthful nude rider, holding reins in right hand and whip in left, dismounting from horse rearing to left on solid exergual line. |
| Reverse: | Stern of ship right; above stern, OΛMITAN; all within diamond-shaped incuse. |
| References: | Coll. P. Veselý, HOL-AR-05. |
| Credit: | P. Veselý |
Third staters
| Type 1.3 | |
| Denomination: | AR Third Stater |
| Obverse: | Nude rider, holding reins in right hand and whip in left, dismounting from horse rearing to left; dotted border. |
| Reverse: | Stern of ship to left; vertically above stern, ΟΛΜΙ; below stern, dolphin to left; all within deep diamond-shaped incuse. |
| References: | Numismatik Naumann, Auction 39 (3 January 2016), Lot 415 (acsearch.info URL) |
| Credit: | Numismatik Naumann (see the reference above) |
| Remark: | The dolphin is also found on Holmoi staters from the 4th century BC, see Group 2, Type 2.1. This symbol was also used on the reverse of some Kelenderis coins from the 4th century BC, see the catalogue of Kelenderis coins, Types 2.5 (stater), 3.10 (stater) and 4.3 (third stater). |
Obols
| Type 1.4 | |
| Denomination: | AR Obol |
12 July 2021 – 4 May 2025