Greek Silver & Bronze Coins

Lot 2579    SESSION 11 (9.30AM THURSDAY 25TH NOV)    Greek Silver & Bronze Coins

Estimate $8,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $5,500

LYCIA, Dynast of Lycia, Mithrapata, c.380-375 B.C., silver stater, (9.91 g), obv. forepart of roaring lion to right, rev. head of the dynast to left, triskeles behind, all within incuse square, legend in Lycian letters = (Mithrapata) around, (S.5225 [?2000], Norkholm & Olcay, "The Coin Hoard from Podalia" Num. Chron. 1971, No.37 (dies A2/P2), SNG Von Aulock 4237 [same dies]). Very fine/nearly extremely fine and rare.

Ex Noble Numismatics, Sale 63, March 29-31, 2000 (lot 3584) and previously from Triton III, a joint Classical Nunismatic Group and others sale, November 30-December 1, 1999 (lot 577 est. $1500).
Heritage sold the von Aulock example (same dies and about same grade) on the 19 August 2021 for US $12000.
Although coin portraiture is commonly thought to be a Hellenistic invention, the first true portraits actually appeared in Lycia in the late Classical period, under the dynasts who ruled nominally as suzerains of the Persian Great King. Little is known about Mithrapata, who exercised control circa 390-370 BC, but his remarkable coin portraits, which show him on a human scale and with remarkable realism, offer a few intriguing hints. Unlike earlier Lycian dynasts, he does not wear the bashlyk, a Persian cap worn as a symbol of satrapal power, nor does he sport any godlike attributes. This could suggest Mithrapata had declared his independence of the Persian Empire, or that he favored Greek over Persian sensibilities. (Heritage comment to the von Aulock example).