Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 105 10 May 2017
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UNCERTAIN. Circa 4th–8th centuries AD. AV Stater or Dinar (21mm, 7.96 g). Lion recumbent right, head facing; all within pelleted oval border / Blank circular incuse. Unpublished in the standard references. Near EF, traces of deposits. Possible trace of undertype, cut marks on edge of flan indicating the flan for this coin was cut from a larger flan. Apparently unique.
This coin is somewhat of an enigma. While it appears to be an archaic type electrum issue with a design on the obverse and incuse punch on the reverse, this incuse of this coin in no way comports with known incuse punches of the archaic period. The punch used on this coin appears to be of a plain circular type with no design. The obverse is similarly intriguing. While the lion was a common design element in archaic coinage (see CNG 100, lot 1456 for example, an electrum issue of Miletos), the style of this lion appears to be much later in style, and similar to that found on a stamp seal of the fourth to eighth centuries AD (cf. J.A. Lerner and N. Sims-Williams, Seals, Sealings and Tokens from Bactria to Gandhara (4th to 8th century CE) [2011], E 1.5). Struck on a flan that has been cut down to bring it into a weight (7.96g) consistent with dinars of the Kushans or their successors in the Bactria/Gandhara region, this coin may have been an attempt by one of the region's authorities to institute their own "gold" coinage (cf. CNG 103, lots 485 and 486 for examples of pale AV issues of the Kidara Shahis).
This coin is somewhat of an enigma. While it appears to be an archaic type electrum issue with a design on the obverse and incuse punch on the reverse, this incuse of this coin in no way comports with known incuse punches of the archaic period. The punch used on this coin appears to be of a plain circular type with no design. The obverse is similarly intriguing. While the lion was a common design element in archaic coinage (see CNG 100, lot 1456 for example, an electrum issue of Miletos), the style of this lion appears to be much later in style, and similar to that found on a stamp seal of the fourth to eighth centuries AD (cf. J.A. Lerner and N. Sims-Williams, Seals, Sealings and Tokens from Bactria to Gandhara (4th to 8th century CE) [2011], E 1.5). Struck on a flan that has been cut down to bring it into a weight (7.96g) consistent with dinars of the Kushans or their successors in the Bactria/Gandhara region, this coin may have been an attempt by one of the region's authorities to institute their own "gold" coinage (cf. CNG 103, lots 485 and 486 for examples of pale AV issues of the Kidara Shahis).