The Fourth Known

Kingdom of Pergamon, Eumenes II AR Tetradrachm. Circa 197-158 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right / The Dioskouroi standing facing, each holding spear, the one on the left resting hand on torso, the one on the right holding sword in sheath; ΒAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, EYMENOY to left, ΠΦ in exergue; all within wreath. SNG BnF 1627 var. (thyrsos and AP on rev.); Lanz Munich 156, 177 var. (same, hammer: 170,000 EUR); BMC 47 var. (ΔΙΑ on rev.). 16.24g, 32mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine; edge broken and professionally restored. Of the greatest rarity; the fourth known example of the type, and only the second in private hands.

The first-born son of King Attalus I Soter of Pergamon, Eumenes was born in the late 3rd century BC and succeeded his father in 197 BC. Appian writes that he refused to marry the daughter of Seleukid king Antiochos III, “seeing that Antiochos was about to engage in war with the Romans” and arguing “if the Romans conquer… I shall be firmly seated in my kingdom” (The Syrian Wars 1, 5). He was proved to have made a wise decision when Rome successfully defeated Antiochos III in the Battle of Magnesia in 190 or 189 BC, with Eumenes II leading the right flank of the army alongside the Roman general Scipio Asiaticus. After the Peace of Apamea, he received the regions of Phrygia, Lydia, Pisidia and Pamphylia from the Romans as a reward for his support. He also supported Rome in other conflicts in the region, including the war against the Spartan tyrant Nabis in 195 BC, and participated in the Battle of Pydna of 168 BC in which the Romans defeated Perseus of Macedon.

This extremely rare coin is highly unusual for the Pergamon Attalid dynasty; never before had a living ruler appeared on its coinage. Scholars have therefore dated this coin to 172 BC, when Eumenes, returning to Pergamon from Rome, was attacked near Cirrha and believed to be dead. His brother and co-ruler Attalos II promptly married his brother’s widow Stratonike and took control of the kingdom. The wonderful portrait of his predecessor should be seen as a symbol of Attalos II’s love for his brother from which he drew his moniker ‘philadelphos’ – ‘brother-loving’ which would underpin his legitimacy to rule.

This interpretation is further supported by the reverse type of the Dioskouroi, the twin tutelary deities and sons of Zeus. When Castor was murdered, Zeus gave Pollux the choice between becoming wholly immortal or resurrecting his brother and sharing his immortality with him and Pollux chose the latter option: it is hard not to read into the reverse type of the two brothers together a grief and desire on the part of Attalos II to be reunited with his own brother. However, just as Castor came back to life, so too did Eumenes II return, having only been seriously injured. Attalos II immediately ceded power, divorced his brother’s wife, and likely discontinued this coin type, thus explaining its status as one of the greatest rarities in the field of ancient numismatics.

288.

Very Rare ‘Kukalim’ Type

Kingdom of Lydia, temp. Alyattes EL 1/3 Stater. Sardes, circa 610-600 BC. Head of roaring lion to left, facing [head of roaring lion to right], Lydian legend ‘KYKALIM’(?) between them / Two incuse square punches. GRPC Lydia G15; Weidauer Group XVIII, 114-115 var. (denomination).

NGC graded Ch XF, 4/5-4/5 (#5872642-011). Very Rare.

Acquired from Vilmar Numismatics.

289.

2,100

Kingdom of Lydia, Kroisos AR Stater - Double Siglos. Sardes, circa 561-546 BC. Confronted foreparts of lion to right and bull to left / Two incuse squares of unequal size. GRPC Lydia S1; Berk 20; Traité I 407; SNG Kayhan 1018; SNG von Aulock 2873-4; SNG Copenhagen 455; SNG Ashmolean 760; BMC 37-40; SNG Lockett 2980-1. 10.42g, 21mm.

Good Very Fine; attractive dark tone.

From the JTB Numismatic Collection - collector’s ticket included; Privately purchased from Wolfshead Gallery (USD 4,750); Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 484, 27 January 2021, lot 350.

900

Kingdom of Lydia, temp. Kroisos AV 1/6 Stater. Light standard. Sardes, circa 550-520 BC. Confronted foreparts of lion and bull / Two incuse square punches of unequal size. GRPC Lydia G54; Walburg group IV, 3 (same punches); Berk 8; Traité I 406 = de Luynes 2801; SNG Kayhan -; SNG von Aulock -; Weber 6772. 1.34g, 8mm.

290. 3,900

Extremely Fine.

Acquired from Tauler & Fau.

291. 3,000

292.

Kingdom of Lydia, temp. Kroisos AV 1/12 Stater. Light standard. Sardes, 550-520 BC. Confronted foreparts of lion and bull / Incuse square. GRPC Lydia G56; Berk 10-13; Gulbenkian 759. 0.68g, 6mm.

Good Extremely Fine.

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIII, 24 March 2022, lot 308.

Satraps of Karia, Hidrieus AR Trihemiobol. Halikarnassos, circa 345-344 BC. Head of Apollo facing slightly to right, wearing laurel wreath, drapery at neck / Stellate pattern; Ι-Δ-Ρ-Ι around. Konuk, Identities 26; HNO 238 (temp.); SNG von Aulock, 2370-1; SNG Keckman 279; SNG Kayhan 885-7; SNG Berry 1112 (this coin). 0.87g, 10mm.

Near Extremely Fine.

This coin published in Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum United States, Burton Y. Berry Collection. (New York, 1961-1962); From a private European collection.

Karia, Antioch ad Maeandrum AR Tetradrachm. Circa 90-60 BC. Diotrephes, magistrate ‘for the third time’. Laureate head of Apollo to right, with bow and quiver over shoulder / Zebu bull standing to left, head facing; ANTIOXEΩN ΔIOTPΕΦΗC TO TPITON in three lines above and below; all within circular maeander pattern. Thonemann, Group A, 2a (O3/R6); HNO 2068 (temp.). 15.53g, 29mm, 11h. Very Fine. Rare.

From the JTB Numismatic Collection; Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG.

Karia, Kaunos AR Tetradrachm. In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Circa 300-280 BC. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left, holding sceptre; double headed axe before, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ behind. Price 2074 (Miletos or Mylasa); Müller 1128; HNO 7 (temp.). For the reattribution to Kaunos, see R.H.J. Ashton, “Kaunos, not Miletos or Mylasa,” NC 2004, pp. 33-46. 17.10g, 29mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine; subtle cabinet tone with underlying lustre, beautifully centred on a broad planchet. Acquired from Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung.

Islands off Karia, Kos AR Hemiobol. Circa 500-480 BC. Crab with eight legs / Rough incuse square. HNO 2124 (temp.); BMC 5; CNG E-287, 206; cf. SNG Kayhan 903 (crab with six legs); cf. Tzamalis 5 (same); HPM pl. XV, 16; HGC 6, 1297. 0.41g, 7mm. Good Very Fine. Very Rare.

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 37, 24 June 2017, lot 161.

Islands of Karia, Kos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 280-250 BC. Xanthippos, magistrate. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Crab; KΩION above, ΞANΘIΠΠOΣ above bow-in-bowcase below; all within dotted square border. Requier Group III, 62; Boston MFA Supp. 195; Gulbenkian 1005 = Weber 6630; HNO 622 (temp.); HGC 6, 1308 var. (unlisted magistrate). 14.93g, 27mm, 12h. Extremely Fine. Very Rare with this magistrate.

From the Arethusa Collection; Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XI, 7 April 2016, lot 442.

1,800

Karia, Mylasa AR Stater. Circa 520-490 BC. Forepart of a roaring lion to right / Divided incuse punch. HNO 1380 (temp.); SNG Kayhan 930 (Uncertain); K. Konuk. “Influences et Eléments Achéménides dans le monnayage de la Carie” in MIMAA, pl. XXIX, 10; BMC -; Traité -; SNG Keckman -; ACGC 993. 10.93g, 20mm.

Extremely Fine; beautiful cabinet tone, unobtrusive test cut on rev

From the JTB Numismatic Collection - collector’s ticket included; Ex collection of an antiquarian, Bavaria c. 1960s-1990s, Roma Numismatics Ltd, Auction XX, 29 October 2020, lot 247.

Rhodes

298. 150

Rhodos, Kamiros AR Obol. Circa 500-460 BC. Aiginetic standard. Fig leaf / Rough incuse square. HNO 370 (temp., tritemorion); SNG Keckman 3234; cf. BMC p. 224, 10; HCG 6, 1390 (tritemorion). 0.61g, 8mm. Very Fine. Extremely Rare. Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXII, 7 October 2021, lot 357.

299. 600

Rhodos, Rhodes AR Didrachm. Circa 275-250 BC. Antipatros, magistrate. Head of Helios facing slightly to right / Rose with bud to right; ANTIΠATPOΣ above, grain ear to left, P-O across fields. Ashton 186; HNO 835 (temp.); SNG Keckman 503-4; HGC 6, 1437. 6.69g, 20mm, 12h. Extremely Fine; bright, lustrous metal with golden iridescence. From the inventory of a North American dealer.

Rhodos, Rhodes AR Tetradrachm. Circa 230-205 BC. Ameinias, magistrate. Radiate head of Helios facing slightly to right / Rose with bud to right; POΔION above; in left field, prow to left, AMEINI-AΣ flanking stem below. Ashton 212; HNO 387 (temp.); SNG Keckman 542; HGC 6, 1432. 13.46g, 25mm, 12h.

Near Mint State.

From the Arethusa Collection.

Rhodos, Rhodes AR Tetradrachm. Civic issue in the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Circa 201-190 BC. Ainetor, magistrate. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left, holding sceptre; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟY to right, AINHTΩP above rose in left field, PO below throne. Ashton 251; Kleiner, Rhodes Series XIII; Price 2518; HNO 868 (temp.); SNG Keckman 598; HGC 6, 1455. 16.35g, 32mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine; bright, lustrous metal.

From the inventory of a North American dealer.

Rhodos, Rhodes AR Drachm. Circa 88 BC - AD 14. Aineas, magistrate. Radiate head of Helios facing slightly to right / Rose of six petals seen from above; AINEAΣ above, P-O across fields, grain ear to left below. Ashton & Weiss 175 (A41/-[unlisted rev. die]). Pozzi 2720; HGC 6, 1456. 4.16g, 19mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine; light cabinet tone with golden iridescence over lustrous metal.

This coin published at Historia Numorum Online (http://hno.huma-num.fr);

Ex Kölner Münzkabinett, Auction 115, 29 October 2021, lot 82.

Ex Nomos AG, obolos 16, 11 October 2020, lot 853.

Lykia

304.

Dynasts of Lykia, uncertain dynast (Kybernis?) AR Stater. Circa 500-480 BC. ‘Pre-dynastic’ period. Forepart of boar to left; KYB on shoulder / Incuse square with large V, indentations on three sides. Müseler III, 1; BMC 9; cf. SNG von Aulock 4045; cf. Künker 100, 27. 9.40g, 19mm.

Near Extremely Fine; pleasant light cabinet tone. Extremely Rare.

From a private Australasian Collection.

Ex CNG 54, 2000

Dynasts of Lykia, Perikles AR Stater. Circa 380-375 BC. Head of Perikles turned slightly to left, wearing laurel wreath and drapery around neck / Warrior, nude but for crested Corinthian helmet, in fighting attitude to right, holding sword aloft in right hand, shield on left arm; Π↑PEKΛ↑ (‘Perikle’ in Lycian) around, triskeles to lower right; all within shallow incuse square. Müseler VIII, 36 (same obv. die); Podalia, 419-25 (A2-P6); SNG von Aulock 4252. 9.79g, 26mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine; a wonderful, expressive portrait and cleanly struck rev

Ex Dr. G.W. Collection, Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 269, 9 March 2020, lot 476 (hammer: 4,600 EUR); Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 54, 14 June 2000, lot 740 (hammer: 4,000 USD).

2,100

Lykia, Phaselis AR Tetradrachm. Civic issue in the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Dated CY 7 = 212/1 BC. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left, holding sceptre; AΛEΞANΔP[OY] to right, Ξ above Φ in left field, annulet below throne. Price 2842 var. (position of symbols, annulet); Müller 1184 var. (same); DCA 315. 16.69g, 29mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine; lustrous metal, with a light cabinet tone.

From the inventory of a North American dealer.

307.

Pamphylia, Aspendos AR Stater. Circa 380-325 BC. Two wrestlers grappling; FN (partially retrograde) between, MENETYΣ EΛYΦA in exergue / Slinger in throwing stance to right; EΣTFEΔIIYΣ to left, triskeles to right; all within pelleted square. Tekin Series D; SNG von Aulock 4568 (same obv. die); SNG BnF 97-8 (same obv. die). 10.86g, 27mm, 12h.

Near Mint State.

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXII, 7 October 2021, lot 367.

309.

Pamphylia, Aspendos AR Stater. Circa 380-325 BC. Two wrestlers grappling; FN (partially retrograde) between, MENETYΣ EΛYΦA in exergue / Slinger in throwing stance to right; EΣTFEΔIIYΣ to left, triskeles to right; all within pelleted square. Tekin Series D; SNG von Aulock 4568 (same obv. die); SNG BnF 97-8 (same obv. die). 10.93g, 25mm, 11h.

Near Mint State.

Pamphylia, Aspendos AR Stater. Circa 380-325 BC. Two wrestlers grappling; MΛ between / Slinger in throwing stance to right; [EΣ]TFEΔIIYΣ to left, triskeles to right; all within pelleted square. Tekin Series 4; Arslan & Lightfoot 153 (same obv. die); Izmir 49-50 (same obv. die); SNG BnF -; SNG von Aulock 4559; SNG Copenhagen 233. 10.86g, 23mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine.

From a private European collection; Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXII, 7 October 2021, lot 366 900

Pamphylia, Side AR Stater. Circa 479-430 BC. Pomegranate on stem with leaf on each side / Helmeted head of Athena to left; dolphin upwards before; all within incuse square. Atlan -; SNG BnF -; SNG von Aulock -; BMC -; Nomos 22, 201 var. (Athena to right); Nomos 19, 170 var. (same). 10.84g, 19mm, 2h.

Good Very Fine. Unpublished and possibly unique.

From the inventory of a UK dealer; Acquired from Den of Antiquity Ltd.

600

Cilicia, Nagidos AR Stater. Circa 400-384 BC. Aphrodite enthroned to left, sacrificing out of phiale over lit altar; behind, Eros standing to left, crowning her with wreath held aloft in right hand / Dionysos standing to left, holding grape bunch on vine in right hand and thyrsos in left; A in wreath in upper left field, NAΓIΔΕΩN around. Lederer 26 (same dies); Casabonne Type 4; SNG BnF -; SNG Levante -. 10.62g, 24mm, 5h.

Good Extremely Fine; struck from slightly worn obv. die.

From the JTB Numismatic Collection; Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG.

Cilicia, Soloi AR Stater. Circa 410-375 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing helmet decorated with griffin / Grape bunch on vine with leaf and tendrils; ΣOΛEΩN to left, HP monogram below to right. Casabonne Type 5; Leu Web Auction 17, 1207-8 (same dies); SNG BnF -; SNG Levante -; SNG von Aulock -; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC -; Traité -. 10.72g, 23mm, 11h.

Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXII, 7 October 2021, lot 381.

Ex Peus 334, 1992

Cilicia, Tarsos AR Stater. Datames, satrap of Cilicia and Cappadocia, circa 384-361 BC. Female head (of Arethusa?) facing slightly to left / Bearded male head (Ares?) to right, wearing crested helmet with three olive leaves above visor; ‘Datames’ in Aramaic before. Moysey Issue 4; SNG Levante 78-9; SNG BnF 266-7; SNG von Aulock 5939-40. 10.84g, 23mm, 5h.

Good Extremely Fine; well-centred, attractive light cabinet tone with iridescent highlights. Scarce type with olive leaves on helmet.

Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 388, 1 November 2006, lot 200; Ex Bellaria Collection, Classical Numismatic Group, Triton VII, 12 January 2004, lot 318; Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 334, 4 November 1992, lot 472.

One of the Greatest Rarities of Hellenistic Portraiture

Kings of Cappadocia, Orophernes AR Tetradrachm. Priene, circa 159-157 BC. Diademed head to right / Nike standing to left, holding wreath and palm; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right, ΟΡΟΦΕΡΝΟ[Υ] to left, [ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ] in exergue; to inner left, owl standing to left, head facing, on round altar, above monogram. Simonetta 1; BMC 1; Gulbenkian 1018; Kraay-Hirmer 768; HGC 7, 815; NAC 106, 331 (hammer: 220,000 CHF); Lanz 158, lot 290; Gemini II, lot 129. 15.64g, 33mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine; somewhat crystallised metal. One of the greatest rarities of Hellenistic portraiture and only the fourth to appear at auction in the past two decades.

15,000

“He who on the tetradrachms / appears to be smiling / with a delicate beautiful face / is Orophernes.” These words begin a poem by the modern Alexandrian poet C. P. Cavafy (1866-1933) which is testament to the superlative artistry of this rare gem of numismatic Hellenistic portraiture.

The enigmatic Orophernes was one of two illegitimate sons of Antiochis and Ariarathes IV Eusebes, whom ancient accounts report were unable to conceive a child naturally. In an effort to secure their dynasty, Antiochis presented him with baby boys and claimed they were his legitimate children. However, when she later gave birth to the future Ariarathes V Eusebes, she revealed the truth and sent the suppositious sons out of Cappadocia to prevent them from challenging the succession of the legitimate heir to the throne. Orophernes was sent off to the Ionian city of Priene, while his brother was sent to Rome.

After the death of Ariarathes IV in 163 BC, Ariarathes V became king and soon after refused a marriage alliance with the Seleukid king Demetrios I Soter, who ruled in Syria without the sanction of the Roman senate, in an effort to maintain his good relations with Rome. Scorned, Demetrios I happily provided Orophernes with an army to invade and claim the throne of Cappadocia for himself in 158 BC. He succeeded in this ambition, but his time on the throne was brief and characterised by greed and oppression. He reportedly deposited 400 talents at Priene as security against any attempt to overthrow him, but he did not have to wait long for his rule to be contested. The deposed Ariarathes appealed to the Roman senate for support in restoring his throne, and Orophernes was ultimately forced to flee and sought safety with Demetrios I in Syria, where, in an extraordinary display of hubris, he also conspired to overthrow his protector. Demetrios I punished him with perpetual imprisonment in order to hold the threat of his potential release against Ariarathes V.

Upon his return to power, Ariarathes V demanded the return of the 400 talents Orophernes had drained from the kingdom and placed at Priene. The Prieneans refused, unwilling to betray Orophernes, and endured a brutal attack in retaliation. Six tetradrachms were found at Priene beneath the pedestal of the cult statue of Athena in 1870, and were thought to form part of Orophernes’ deposit. It has been suggested that the reverse type, with an owl, the symbol of Athena, standing on an altar may indicate that this findspot was the intended location for the coins, thus suggesting that the coins were minted at Priene also. The reverse design is a particular variation on a traditional and oft-repeated reverse type depicting Nike crowning the king’s name, which was ultimate derived from Lysimachos’ coins (323-281 BC) but here serves to reflect Orophernes’ title Nikephoros.

315.

Cyprus, Kition AR Stater. Baalmelek II, circa 425-400 BC. Herakles in fighting stance to right, wearing lion skin upon his back and tied around neck, holding club overhead in right hand and bow extended before him in left hand; monogram or ankh to right / Lion attacking stag crouching to right; L [B’LMLK] (in Aramaic) above; all inside dotted border within incuse square. Tziambazis 19; SNG Copenhagen 9-10. 11.04g, 25mm, 12h.

About Extremely Fine; struck from a worn rev. die as usual, but an exceptionally fresh obv. for the type.

Ex collection of an antiquarian, Bavaria c. 1960s-1990s, Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 94, 24 February 2022, lot 434 (since professionally conserved); Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 32, 7 January 2017, lot 493.

Ex Dali Hoard, 1869

Cyprus, Paphos AR Stater. Pny-, circa 460-425 BC. Bull walking to left; ‘Pu’ in Cypriot script above / Eagle’s head to left, palmette above, pattern below, all in dotted border within incuse square. BMC 6; Dikaios, Larnaca 187, pl. 14, 5 (same dies); SNG Copenhagen 25; Tziambazis 75; Asyut 784; Traité II, 1281. 10.93g, 23mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine; obv. struck from usual worn dies; attractive tone. Very Rare.

Ex Naville & Cie (Ars Classica), Auction 10, 15 June 1925, lot 737; Ex Dali Hoard, 1869 (IGCH 1276).

3,000

Cyprus, Paphos AR Stater. Stasandros, circa 425 BC or later. Bull standing to left; winged solar disk above, ankh to left, palmette ornament in exergue / Eagle standing to left; one-handled vase to left, ‘pa-si sa-ta-sa’ in Cypriot script around; all within dotted square in incuse square. DestrooperGeorgiades 15; Tziambazis 7; Traité II 1291 = BMC 17; SNG Copenhagen 26; ACGC 1089. 11.02g, 23mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine; lustrous metal under light cabinet tone.

From a private European collection.

3,000

317. 900

Cyprus, Salamis. Evagoras I AV 1/10 Stater. Circa 411-373 BC. Head of bearded Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Man-headed goat with long horns and beard lying to right. Zapiti & Michaelidou 15; BMC 52; SNG Copenhagen 46; Bement 1651 (same dies); Dewing 2531 (same dies); Tziambazis 111 var. (no club); CNG 103, 348 (same dies). 0.71g, 8mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

From a private European collection.

318.

Cyprus, Salamis AV 1/12 Stater. Pnytagoras, circa 351-332 BC. Turreted head of Aphrodite to left; [Π] behind / Male head to left, wearing crown decorated with semi-circular plates and torque; Cypriot letter ‘ba’ behind. McGregor Group N.AV.II; Markou, L’or 432-8; Traité II 1185; Zapiti & Michaelidou -; SNG Copenhagen -; Roma E-105, 322; CNG E-500, 327; Morton & Eden 64, 64. 0.68g, 7mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; only seven examples cited by Markou.

From a private UK Collection.

1,200

Cyprus, Salamis AV 1/12 Stater. Pnytagoras, circa 351-332 BC. Turreted head of Aphrodite to left; Π behind / Male head to left, wearing crown decorated with semi-circular plates and torque; Cypriot letter ‘ba’ behind. McGregor Group N.AV.II; Markou, L’or 432-8; Traité II 1185; Zapiti & Michaelidou -; SNG Copenhagen -; Roma E-105, 322; CNG E-500, 327; Morton & Eden 64, 64. 0.71g, 9mm, 9h.

Good Extremely Fine; slight die shift to rev. Extremely Rare; one of the finest examples of just a handful known, in comparable condition to the Morton & Eden example which hammered for £10,000.

319. 900

From a private European collection.

Phoenicia

Phoenicia, Sidon Fourrée Half Shekel. Circa 5th century BC. City walls with four towers, before which a Phoenician galley to left; below, two lions leaping in opposite directions / Persian Great King or hero standing to right, holding dagger and grasping mane of lion held before him; Phoenician letters ‘B between; all within incuse square. For prototype, cf. HGC 10, 227-9. 6.76g, 18mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine; a very well-preserved and interesting contemporary forgery.

From a private UK collection.

Kyrenaika

300

Kyrenaika, Kyrene AR Drachm. 331-322 BC. Theupheides, magistrate. Head of Karneios to left; ΘEY behind / Silphium plant; K-Y P-A across fields. BMC 167 = Müller, Afrique 143; BMC p. LXI, 167a (Berlin); Traité III 1889 = Müller, Afrique 143 var. (BnF specimen with longer ethnic, BM specimen cited); SNG Copenhagen -. 2.84g, 15mm, 5h.

Very Fine. Extremely Rare; seemingly only three recorded examples of the type, all of which are in museums, and the only example to come to auction in the past twenty years.

300

322.

Kyrenaika, Kyrene AV Drachm. Circa 322-313 BC. Youth on horseback prancing to right; monogram behind hind leg, KYPAAION across fields / Silphium plant; to lower left, mouse. Naville 108; BMC 124; Traité III 1850; SNG Copenhagen -; Gorny & Mosch 160, 1760; Stack’s Bowers August 2016, lot 20127. 4.28g, 14mm, 8h.

Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare; only five examples cited by Naville, seemingly only two others on CoinArchives.

1,500

323.

Kyrenaika, Kyrene AR Didrachm. Temp. Magas, circa 294-275 BC. Horned head of Zeus Karneios to left / Silphion plant; [monogram] to upper left, star to upper right, KY-PA across fields. BMC 238, pl. XXII 1 (same dies); SNG Lockett 3475; SNG Copenhagen 1238 corr. (monogram). 7.69g, 21mm, 11h.

Near Extremely Fine; light cabinet tone with hints of lustre.

Ex cgb.fr, Mail Bid Sale 32, 6 December 2007, lot 76.

Egypt

1,200

324. 300

Pharaonic Kingdom of Egypt, uncertain pharaoh(s) AR Tetradrachm. Late 5th-mid 4th centuries BC. Imitating Athens. Helmeted head of Athena to right, with frontal eye / Owl standing to right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, ΑΘΕ before; all within incuse square. Van Alfen pl. 6, 104 and pl. 8; Van Alfen, Mechanisms, Group III.A.1, Fig. 1 = Buttrey Type M. 17.16g, 24mm, 8h.

Good Extremely Fine.

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 90, 18 November 2021, lot 566.

Pharaonic Kingdom of Egypt, uncertain pharaoh(s) AR Tetradrachm. Late 5th-mid 4th centuries BC. Imitating Athens. Helmeted head of Athena to right, with frontal eye / Owl standing to right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, ΑΘΕ before; all within incuse square. Van Alfen pl. 6, 104 and pl. 8; Van Alfen, Mechanisms, Group III.A.1, Fig. 1 = Buttrey Type M. 17.15g, 24mm, 9h.

Good Extremely Fine.

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 90, 18 November 2021, lot 567.

An Early Ptolemaic Masterpiece

Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy I Soter, as satrap, AR Tetradrachm. In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Memphis, circa 322/1 BC. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left, holding sceptre; AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, rose to left, ΔI-O (moneyer’s signature) below throne. CPE 19; Price 3971; Müller 124; SNG Copenhagen 7-8; Zervos Issue 2C; Kraay & Hirmer 569; Gulbenkian 855. 17.19g, 29mm, 11h.

Near Mint State; light cabinet tone, engraved in majestic style and struck on a broad planchet with full borders on both sides. The finest example offered at auction in the past two decades.

Ex Long Valley River Collection; Ex Nomos AG, Auction 18, 5 May 2019, lot 268.

15,000

Alexander tetradrachms marked with the rose symbol and the letters ΔIO have long been admired as one of the most beautiful issues of his coinage. They were struck in Egypt, probably not long after Alexander’s death on 10 June 323 BC. Without Alexander’s leadership, and with no clear or legitimate heir to the vast empire he had created, Alexander’s generals fought amongst themselves and fractured the empire, dividing it into satrapies which they nominally managed on behalf of Alexander’s successors, his feeble-minded half-brother Philip Arrhidaios and his unborn son. Ptolemy took Egypt, recognising its great potential. He initially retained Kleomenes, the caretaker Alexander had left in place in Egypt, as his deputy, though subsequently removed him on account of his many excesses and mismanagements, and appropriated the 8,000 talents Kleomenes had accumulated in his treasury. A part of this treasure was turned into new coin, like the present piece, and used to fund Ptolemy’s military ambitions.

Extremely

Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy I Soter, as satrap, AR Tetradrachm. In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Arados, circa 320-315 BC. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left, holding sceptre; AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, AP monogram in left field. Price 3426 (Byblos); Müller 1375 (same). 17.20g, 28mm, 12h.

328. 1,050

Good Extremely Fine; high relief, beautiful old cabinet tone with attractive iridescence.

Ex Jolimont Collection;

Ex Nomos AG, Auction 12, 22 May 2016, lot 39; Ex Münzen & Medaillen GmbH, Auction 35, 17 November 2011, lot 36.

Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy VI Philometor AR Tetradrachm. Second sole reign. Alexandria, circa 163-145 BC. Diademed head to right, aegis around neck / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΠTOΛEMAIOY, eagle standing to left on thunderbolt; no control marks. Olivier 4252–62 (obv. die D171); Svoronos 1489; SNG Copenhagen 262–8. 14.20g, 27mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine.

Ex Dr. Walter Stoecklin Collection, Nomos AG, Auction 15, 22 October 2017, lot 202; Acquired from Bank Leu & Co. AG prior to 1975.

Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Kleopatra VII Thea Neotera Æ Diobol - 80 Drachmai. Alexandria, 51-30 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right / KΛEOΠATPAΣ BAΣIΛEΩ[Σ] (sic), eagle standing to left on thunderbolt; cornucopiae to left, Π to right. Svoronos 1871; Weiser 183; SNG Copenhagen 419-21; Noeske 380-2. 18.00g, 28mm, 12h.

Very Fine; lightly tooled, die engraver’s error on rev. legend.

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXII, 7 October 2021, lot 411.

Extremely Rare

Nabataea, Aretas IV Æ 14mm. 9 BC - AD 40. Diademed and veiled head to left; ‘Malita’ in Nabataean before / ‘Qarta’ in Nabataean within double circular border. Cf. Al-Qatanani, p. 24, 1; otherwise unpublished. 1.97g, 14mm.

Very Fine. Extremely Rare; no other examples on CoinArchives.

A Spectacular Example

600

Arabia, Mleiha. Abi’el AR Tetradrachm. In the types of Alexander III of Macedon. 3rd - 2nd centuries BC. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Male figure seated to left, holding sceptre and horse protome in outstretched hand; palm tree and ‘alif ’ (in Aramaic) to left, ‘b’l brt lbš (‘Abi’el daughter of Labaš) in Aramaic and vertical row of dots to right. MacDonald, ‘Abiel’, Group A.3.1, pl. 5; van Alfen, Die, 8-11 (O3/R- [unlisted rev. die]); Huth 11; Potts 1991, Class II, 4; Arnold-Biucchi pl. 19, 11 var. (no alif below palm tree); HGC 10, 686; Roma XIX, 596 (same dies - greatly inferior specimen - hammer: 12,000 GBP). 16.69g, 27mm, 5h.

Good Extremely Fine; a spectacular example of the type - beautifully centred on the flan, exhibiting great detail and a marvellous old cabinet tone. Extremely Rare; rev. die unknown to both van Alfen and MacDonald.

There is no historical evidence about the society or form of government who issued this remarkable tetradrachm in the region we now call the Oman Peninsula. The coinage types are obviously derived from the Herakles - Zeus Aëtophoros types of Alexander the Great and the Seleukid successor issues which circulated throughout the Gulf region after the Greek invasion of the Persian Empire in the late 4th century BC. In about 205/4 BC, Antiochos III even threatened to conquer nearby Gerrha, but resisted when offered a ransom of 500 talents of silver, 1000 talents of frankincense and 200 talents of myrrh.

The inscriptions on the coinage are in Aramaic, the international language of the Achaemenid and Parthian administration, as well as some dynasts nominally under Seleucid rule in the East. The intriguing Aramaic legend ‘by’l brt lbš is also a mystery; it literally means ‘Abi’el son/daughter of Lab’, but we do not know if Abi’el was a man or a woman, king or queen. Setting aside the story of the Queen of Sheba in what is now Yemen, Eastern Arabia is remarkable for its succession of priestess-queens, known as the ‘queens of the Arabs’ in Assyrian records of the 8th to 7th centuries BC. After this, there are no more references to queens in Arabia until the ‘sister-queens’ that appear on the neighbouring Nabataean coinage of Obodas III from about 30 BC. The Assyrian records and Nabataean numismatic evidence indicates that, in contrast to the rest of the ancient Near East, the concept of ruling queens existed in northern Arabia from a very early date and lasted until recorded historical times.

Axum

Ex Hess-Divo 314, 2009

Kingdom of Axum, Endybis AV Unit. Circa AD 300-310. ENΔYBIC BACIΛEYC (“King Endybis”), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth, flanked by wheat stalks; crescent and pellet above / AξѠMITѠ BICIΔAXY (“of the Aksumites, man of Daku”), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth, flanked by wheat stalks; crescent and pellet above. Hahn & Keck 1.111; SACAM 1-11; H 1; AC 1; Vaccaro 1. 2.70g, 16mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. Rare.

Ex Hess-Divo AG, Auction 314, 4 May 2009, lot 1678.

Kingdom of Axum, Ousanas I AR Unit. Circa AD 325-345. OYCANA (“Ousanas”), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth; all within double circular border / BACIAЄI (“King”), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth; all within double circular border. Hahn & Keck 21a; SACAM 80-6; H 25; AC 32-3; Vaccaro 42. 1.11g, 15mm, 1h.

334. 300

Near Extremely Fine.

335. 180

336.

Kingdom of Axum, Ousanas I AR Unit. Circa AD 325-345. OYCANA (“Ousanas”), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth; all within double circular border / BACIAЄI (“King”), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth; all within double circular border. Hahn & Keck 21a; SACAM 80-6; H 25; AC 32-3; Vaccaro 42. 1.48g, 15mm, 1h.

Near Extremely Fine.

From the private collection of a European Engineer.

Very Rare

Kingdom of Axum, Eon (Noe) AV Unit. Circa AD 410-450. ⧾ BΛX ⧾ ΛCΛ ⧾ BΛC ⧾ CIN (interpretation uncertain - “King of the land of the Abyssinians” [much abbreviated]?), crowned and draped bust to right, holding stick, flanked by wheat stalks; all within circular border / ⧾ ЄѠN ⧾ BIC

⧾ IΛN ⧾ ΛΛΦ (“Eon man of Anaaf”), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth, flanked by wheat stalks; all within circular border. Hahn & Keck 38; SACAM 222 (same dies); H 28a; AC 59-60; Vaccaro 39. 1.58g, 17mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG; Ex important collection of Aksumite coins.

1,500

337.

Kingdom of Axum, Eon (Noe) AV Unit. Circa AD 410-450. ⧾ ΛCX ⧾ ΛCΛ ⧾ CΛC ⧾ CIN (interpretation uncertain - “King of the land of the Abyssinians” [much abbreviated]?), crowned and draped bust to right, holding stick, flanked by wheat stalks; all within circular border / ⧾ IAN ⧾ IѠC + XAA ⧾ CIC (partially retrograde - interpretation uncertain - “Eon man of Anaaf”), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth, flanked by wheat stalks; all within circular border. Hahn & Keck 38; SACAM 231-3; H 28B; AC 61-2 1.45g, 19mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine.

450

Kingdom of Axum, Eon (Noe) AV Unit. Circa AD 410-450. ⧾ CΛX ⧾ ΛCΛ ⧾ CΛC ⧾ CΛC (interpretation uncertain - “King of the land of the Abyssinians” [much abbreviated]?), crowned and draped bust to right, holding stick, flanked by wheat stalks; all within circular border / ⧾ IAN ⧾ AAX + IѠC ⧾ CIC ( retrograde - interpretation uncertain - “Eon man of Anaaf”), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth, flanked by wheat stalks; all within circular border. Hahn & Keck 38; SACAM 222-30; H 28a; AC 59-60. 1.63g, 18mm, 12h.

338. 300

Good Extremely Fine.

339.

Kingdom of Axum, Eon (Noe) AV Unit. Circa AD 410-450. ⧾ ΛCX ⧾ ΛCΛ ⧾ CΛC ⧾ CIN (interpretation uncertain - “King of the land of the Abyssinians” [much abbreviated]?), crowned and draped bust to right, holding stick, flanked by wheat stalks; all within circular border / ⧾ IѠC ⧾ CIC ⧾ IAN ⧾ ΛΛΦ (“Eon man of Anaaf”), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth, flanked by wheat stalks; all within circular border. Hahn & Keck 38; SACAM 222-30; H 28a; AC 59-60. 1.58g, 17mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine; struck from slightly worn dies. Rare.

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG; Ex important collection of Aksumite coins.

750

Kingdom of Axum, Ebana AV Unit. Circa AD 460-480. ⧾ CΛC ⧾ ΛCΛ ⧾⧾ CΛ ⧾ CIN (interpretation uncertain - “King of the land of the Abyssinians” [much abbreviated]?), crowned bust to right, holding stick, grain ears flanking; within circular border / ⧾ CΛC ⧾ ΛCΛ ⧾ CCC ⧾ ΛNΛ (“King Ebana”), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth, holding fly-whisk, grain ears flanking; • above bust; within circular border. Hahn & Keck 43; SACAM 268; H 34; AC 71-3. 1.51g, 16mm, 12h.

340. 750

Near Extremely Fine.

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 97, 26 May 2022, lot 445.

341. 600

342.

Kingdom of Axum, Ebana AV Unit. Circa AD 460-480. ⧾ CΛX ⧾ ΛCΛ ⧾ CΛC ⧾ CIN interpretation uncertain - “King of the land of the Abyssinians” [much abbreviated]?), crowned bust to right, holding stick, grain ears flanking; within circular border / ⧾ ΛNΛ ⧾ CAC ⧾ ΛCΛ + CCC (“King Ebana”), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth, holding fly-whisk, grain ears flanking; within circular border. Hahn & Keck 43; SACAM 259; H 34; AC 71-3. 1.62g, 16mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine.

343.

Kingdom of Axum, Ebana AV Unit. Circa AD 460-480. ⧾ CΛX ⧾ ΛCΛ ⧾ CΛC ⧾ CIN (partially retrograde - interpretation uncertain - “King of the land of the Abyssinians” [much abbreviated]?), crowned bust to right, holding stick, grain ears flanking; within circular border / ⧾ ΛNΛ ⧾ CAC ⧾ ΛCΛ + CCC (partially retrograde - “King Ebana”), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth, holding fly-whisk, grain ears flanking; within circular border. Hahn & Keck 43; SACAM 255 (same dies); H 34; AC 71-3. 1.63g, 16mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine.

600

Kingdom of Axum, Ebana AV Unit. Circa AD 460-480. ⧾ CΛX ⧾ ΛCΛ ⧾ CΛC ⧾ CIN (interpretation uncertain - “King of the land of the Abyssinians” [much abbreviated]?), crowned bust to right, holding stick, grain ears flanking; Λ above bust; within circular border / ⧾ ΛNΛ ⧾ CAC ⧾ ΛCΛ + CEB (“King Ebana”), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth, holding fly-whisk, grain ears flanking; within circular border. Hahn & Keck 43; SACAM 269 (same dies); H 34; AC 71-3. 1.61g, 16mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Rare variant with Λ above obv. bust.

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 96, 5 May 2022, lot 458.

600

344.

Kingdom of Axum, Ebana AV Unit. Circa AD 460-480. ⧾ CΛX ⧾ ΛCΛ ⧾ CΛC ⧾ CIN (interpretation uncertain - “King of the land of the Abyssinians” [much abbreviated]?), crowned bust to right, holding stick, grain ears flanking; within circular border / ⧾ ΛNΛ ⧾ CAC ⧾ ΛCΛ + CCC (“King Ebana”), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth, holding fly-whisk, grain ears flanking; within circular border. Hahn & Keck 43; SACAM 25576; H 34; AC 71-3. 1.60g, 16mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine.

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 96, 5 May 2022, lot 459.

600

345. 600

347.

Kingdom of Axum, Ebana AV Unit. Circa AD 460-480. ⧾ CΛC ⧾ ΛCΛ ⧾⧾ CΛ ⧾ CIN (interpretation uncertain - “King of the land of the Abyssinians” [much abbreviated]?), crowned bust to right, holding stick, grain ears flanking; within circular border / ⧾ ΛNΛ ⧾ BAC ⧾ ΛCΛ + BCC (“King Ebana”), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth, holding fly-whisk, grain ears flanking; • above bust; within circular border. Hahn & Keck 43; SACAM 255-76; H 34; AC 71-3. 1.59g, 16mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine.

Kingdom of Axum, Ebana AV Unit. Circa AD 460-480. ⧾ CΛX ⧾ ΛCΛ ⧾ CΛC ⧾ CVN (sic-interpretation uncertain - “King of the land of the Abyssinians” [much abbreviated]?), crowned bust to right, holding stick, grain ears flanking; within circular border / ⧾ ΛNΛ ⧾ CAC ⧾ ΛCΛ + CEB (“King Ebana”), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth, holding fly-whisk, grain ears flanking; within circular border. Hahn & Keck 43; SACAM 274; H 34; AC 71-3. 1.57g, 17mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine. Rare.

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG; Ex important collection of Aksumite coins.

Kingdom of Axum, Ebana AV Unit. Circa AD 460-480. ⧾ CΛX ⧾ ΛCΛ ⧾ CΛC ⧾ CIN (interpretation uncertain - “King of the land of the Abyssinians” [much abbreviated]?), crowned bust to right, holding stick; Λ above head, grain ears flanking, all within circular border / ⧾ ΛNΛ ⧾ BAC ⧾ ΛCΛ + CEB (“King Ebana”), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth, holding fly-whisk, grain ears flanking; within circular border. Hahn & Keck 43; SACAM 262 (same obv. die); H 34; AC 71-3. 1.53g, 16mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Rare.

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG; Ex important collection of Aksumite coins.

Published in Hahn & Keck

Kingdom of Axum, Kaleb AV Unit. Circa AD 510-540. (monogram) XAΛ ⧾ HBA ⧾ CIΛ ⧾ ЄVC (sic - “King Kaleb”, retrograde), crowned and draped bust to right, holding spear, flanked by wheat stalks; within circular border; O to left of stalk / (monogram) VIOC ΘЄZЄNA (“son of Thezena”, retrograde), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth, holding fly whisk, flanked by wheat stalks; pellet above; within circular border. Hahn & Keck 64.25 (this coin); The Abyan Governorate Hoard, 21; SACAM 357 (same rev. die); H 41b; AC 91-6. 1.58g, 16mm, 1h.

About Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare.

This coin published in the online Phaidra database of the University of Vienna at: https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:1190386;

This coin published in W.R.O Hahn and R. Keck, Münzgeschichte der AksumitenKönige in der Spätantike, Veröffentlichungen des Instituts für Numismatik und Geldgeschichte der Universität Wien Vol. 21 (2020);

This coin published in D. M. Chico and A. G. Garcia, Coin Hoards, The Abyan Governorate Hoard of Late Roman Solidi and Aksumite Gold Coins (Royal Numismatic Society, 2019); Ex Abyan Governorate Hoard (Yemen, 2018).