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Type/Object Name: Ob: Pegasus. ‘Ϙ’ (koppa) underneath belly. | Re: Helmeted head of Athena. ‘N’ and triskelon symbol on the right. 

Dates: 350-338 BCE

Medium: Silver, Stater

Dimensions: Diameter 23.5 mm, Weight 8.3696 g

Credit Line: Courtesy of John Nebel

Notes: Modern

Corinth started issuing silver coinage in the mid-6th century BCE, among the earliest of Greek cities to mint coins. It became an “international” currency, like the coinage of Athens and Aegina, and circulated very widely – Corinthian coins have been found as far away as Spain, Egypt, the Danube River in Bulgaria, and Kuwait. The image of the flying horse Pegasus on the obverse was one of its long-lasting recognizable features. Many Corinthian coins, like this one, have a koppa (or “K”) symbol under Pegasus. This is a reference to Corinth (“Korinthos” in Greek). Although Aphrodite was the patron goddess of Corinth, the imagery on the reverse of its coinage often shows Athena, who had a magic bridle that tamed Pegasus. The shape of the helmet that Athena wears here is specific to Corinth.  

Collection: Coin, John Nebel

Bibliography: BMC Corinth p44 #373 plate xi #5.