Leu Numismatik AG
Auction 2 11 May 2018
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CARIA. Uncertain. Circa 450-400 BC. Diobol (Silver, 11 mm, 1.25 g, 1 h). Head of a roaring lion to right. Rev. Head of a female to right, wearing pearl necklace and with her hair tied up in a krobylos that is bound up; all within circle of pearls within round incuse. SNG Copenhagen -. SNG Keckman -. SNG Turkey -. SNG von Aulock -. Apparently unpublished. Beautifully toned and with a charming female head of splendid style. Very light roughness and the reverse struck a hint off center, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.
Exactly where this enigmatic coin was issued is uncertain. While the circle of pearls and the round incuse recall some later Lycian fractions, the lack of Lycian letters and the style of the lion head lead us to believe it is of Carian origin. The obverse bears close resemblance to the coinage of the Carian dynast Hekatomnos, but the style and the deep reverse incuse are, in fact, certainly of an earlier time.
Exactly where this enigmatic coin was issued is uncertain. While the circle of pearls and the round incuse recall some later Lycian fractions, the lack of Lycian letters and the style of the lion head lead us to believe it is of Carian origin. The obverse bears close resemblance to the coinage of the Carian dynast Hekatomnos, but the style and the deep reverse incuse are, in fact, certainly of an earlier time.