Greek Olympic Coin | Wrestler Stater

Obverse:  Wrestlers Grappling
Reverse:  Slinger striding right, triskeles to the right
Weight: 9.20 g
Width: 2.1 cm / .82 in 

These coins are among the most immediately recognizable artifacts of the classical Greek world, showing two athletes locked in a wrestling bout with tense, almost sculptural realism. The scene reflects how central athletics were to Greek identity, not just as sport but as a public expression of discipline, strength, and civic pride. Wrestling was one of the oldest and most prestigious events in Greek competition, and its placement on coinage signaled the city’s alignment with panhellenic values that were shared across the Greek-speaking world.

The figures are widely understood to allude to a celebrated local champion rather than anonymous athletes. Cities that produced Olympic victors often commemorated those wins through public monuments, poetry, and coin imagery, using personal athletic success as a proxy for communal prestige. By placing a victorious wrestler on its silver, Aspendos effectively broadcast its standing to anyone who handled the coin, turning athletic triumph into a lasting symbol of the city’s honor, excellence, and participation in the elite cultural sphere of classical Greece.

Ancient Artifacts guarantees the Authenticity of items sold through a three layer system of protection: 

1. Ancient Artifacts exclusively sources artifacts from trusted and reputable antique distributors, many of whom have been selling Artifacts for decades.  
2. Next, the Artifact is inspected by an expert team member, who is professionally trained in counterfeit detection After the artifact passes inspection, the Certificate of Authenticity is signed and the Artifact is packaged. 
3. Finally, Ancient Artifacts gives an additional layer of protection by promising a full refund with no questions asked, in the extremely unlikely event that a counterfeit slips through our vetting process.

You will receive the exact coin shown in the photos, with dimensions:

Weight: 9.20 g
Width: 2.1 cm / .82 in 

Most surviving examples entered the modern world through buried hoards rather than individual losses, often hidden during periods of instability and never recovered by their owners. Because these staters were struck in high-quality silver and circulated widely in trade, many remained well preserved underground for centuries. Today, legitimate ownership is possible because large numbers were recovered long ago and dispersed into collections, auctions, and established dealer inventories. Their silver content ensured survival, while their abundance means they are accessible to private collectors, typically acquired through reputable antiquities firms that specialize in ancient Greek coinage.