Greek, Roman, Byz. Collection
![](http://www.noble.com.au//site/img/dyn/sales/s79/5505a.jpg)
![](http://www.noble.com.au//site/img/dyn/sales/s79/5505b.jpg)
Lot 3246 Session 11 (9.30am Thursday) Greek, Roman, Byz. Collection
Estimate $1,800
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $2,100
LYDIA, uncertain king, issued before 561 B.C. and probably c.575 B.C., electrum trite or third stater, (4.714 grams) of Lydian-Milesian (Phoenician standard), probably issued at Sardis, obv. head of roaring lion to right, knob with trace of three rays on forehead, rev. double incuse punch, (S.3398, BMC 7 [p.2], Weidauer Class XVI, SNG Cop. 449-451, ACNAC Rosen 231, ACNAC Dewing 2421-3). Good very fine and rare.
The find of early electrum as a foundation deposit in the earliest temple at Ephesus included numerous third staters of this type. It also contained some inscribed electrum coins with the non-Greek name `Welwet'. Scholars began identifying this name with Alyattes, king of Lydia. Since then this attribution has been thrown into doubt by the more recent discovery of a parallel name, `Kali', which does not correspond to any known Lydian king. No one really doubts, however that this prolific coinage was issued by the Lydian royal house. The lion's head was the dynastic badge, and this manner of representation, with the herringbone mane and `wart' on nose, was introduced into Greek art from Assyria in the second half of the seventh century B.C. It is one of, if not the earliest example of ancient coinage that utilises a design of some type on the obverse. This example is better than most for it is well centred, and free of banker's marks common on this series.
Estimate / sale price does not include buyer's premium (currently 22% including GST) which is added to hammer price. All bids are executed on the understanding that the Terms & Conditions of sale have been read and accepted. For information on grading and estimates please refer to the Buying at Auction advice.
Quick find
View a lot by number and sale.
Adjacent lots
Lot 3244
CARIA, Carian Islands, Rhodes, (c.173/2- 160 B.C., [Jenkins chronology]), silver drachm, (2.822 grams), obv. radiate ...
Estimate $100
Lot 3245
CARIA, Carian Islands, Rhodes, (early 2nd century B.C., [Jenkins chronology]), silver diobol, (0.682 grams), obv. ...
Estimate $60
Lot 3246 This lot
LYDIA, uncertain king, issued before 561 B.C. and probably c.575 B.C., electrum trite or third ...
Estimate $1,800
Lot 3247
LYDIA, Sardeis, time of King Croesus or later, (c.550-520 B.C.), silver half stater or siglos, ...
Estimate $600
Lot 3248
LYCIA, uncertain ruler, (c.450-420 B.C.), silver stater, (8.408 grams), Xanthos mint, obv. Athena head to ...
Estimate $900