Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XVII 28 Mar 2019
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Cyprus, Salamis AR Stater. Evanthes, circa 450 BC. Ram recumbent to left; Cypriot script 'pa-si-le-o e-u-wa-te-o' around / Ram's head to left, Cypriot character 'a' above, ankh symbol below; all within incuse circle. Unpublished in the standard references, for general type, fabric and style cf. K. McGregor, The Coinage of Salamis, Cyprus, from the Sixth to the Fourth Centuries, University College London (unpublished PhD Thesis 1998, J.I, 336-339). 11.08g, 22mm, 10h.
Extremely Fine. Apparently unique and unpublished.
From the collection of an antiquarian, Bavaria c. 1960s-1990s, outside of Cyprus prior to December 1992.
Evanthes has been variously considered at different times to be either a predecessor or successor to Nikodamos; present thought believes him to have been the successor to Nikodamos. The types of King Evanthes, represented by staters and 1/6 staters only, are similar to those of Nikodamos, though a distinct difference in style exists such that the reverse ram head is a much more refined, stylised and classical head. Today, the coinage of Evanthes is rare in the extreme. The direct continutation of types of his predecessor, along with the plausible identification of a coin naming Evelthon on the obverse to Evanthes (Roma E-Sale 53, lot 395) suggests that like Nikodamos, Evanthes claimed descent from the Teukrid house of Evelthon. Evanthes is presumably the king disposed of by a Phoenician usurper, as related by Isokrates (see preceding lot), on the basis that no other kings in this period are named in the meagre historical sources. The numismatic evidence, as assessed by McGregor (1999) appears to confirm that Evanthes was the last Teukrid to hold the throne at Salamis before the emergence of Evagoras I towards the end of the fifth century. Beyond this, of Evanthes we cannot at present say more.
Extremely Fine. Apparently unique and unpublished.
From the collection of an antiquarian, Bavaria c. 1960s-1990s, outside of Cyprus prior to December 1992.
Evanthes has been variously considered at different times to be either a predecessor or successor to Nikodamos; present thought believes him to have been the successor to Nikodamos. The types of King Evanthes, represented by staters and 1/6 staters only, are similar to those of Nikodamos, though a distinct difference in style exists such that the reverse ram head is a much more refined, stylised and classical head. Today, the coinage of Evanthes is rare in the extreme. The direct continutation of types of his predecessor, along with the plausible identification of a coin naming Evelthon on the obverse to Evanthes (Roma E-Sale 53, lot 395) suggests that like Nikodamos, Evanthes claimed descent from the Teukrid house of Evelthon. Evanthes is presumably the king disposed of by a Phoenician usurper, as related by Isokrates (see preceding lot), on the basis that no other kings in this period are named in the meagre historical sources. The numismatic evidence, as assessed by McGregor (1999) appears to confirm that Evanthes was the last Teukrid to hold the throne at Salamis before the emergence of Evagoras I towards the end of the fifth century. Beyond this, of Evanthes we cannot at present say more.