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Rare ancient Greek gold coin sells for $6 million at auction

A rare gold coin minted more than 2,300 years ago has sold for nearly $6 million.

The gold stater was made in the ancient Greek city of Panticapaeum, now in modern Crimea.

The coin has an engraving of the head of a satyr – a woodland spirit – on one side, and a griffin with a spear in its mouth on reverse.

Experts believe the satyr is a pun on the name of ancient king Satyros I.

And griffins were believed to guard the gold found in the mountains of Scythia. 

The coin was part of the collection of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.

It was sold in an auction of the museum’s duplicates in 1934, when Russian dictator Joseph Stalin decided to sell off art to raise money for Russian industry.

Auctioneers Numismatica Ars Classica co-director Arturo Russo said:

“I am extremely pleased with the phenomenal result the sale of the Panticapaeum stater achieved at our latest auction in Zurich.

“It is the work of a true craftsman.”

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