Watch List notes:

PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter. As satrap, 323-305/4 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 17.01 g, 11h). Byblos mint. Struck circa 320/19-315 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin; unclear inscription along lower right border / ΑΛΕΞΑИΔΡΟY (sic), Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; A in left field, B below throne. Price 3410 var. (no signature on obverse; Berytos); Byblos Hoard 6386 (same dies); CNG 66, lot 245 = CNG 60, lot 337 (same dies); NAC P, lot 1422 (same dies). Attractively toned, a couple minor edge bumps. EF. Extremely rare, one of four known from this issue with the obverse inscription.


From the DMS Collection. Ex Berk BBS 103 (28 July 1998), lot 105.

The inscription on the obverse is unclear on all three examples that are known. The first letter form, though suggests that it is either an A, Δ, or Λ. It's placement and diminutive size suggest that it is an artist signature. Interestingly, the coins in the Byblos Hoard show that this obverse die was also used to strike other issues at that city (Price 3406, 3407, 3412, and 3420). Unfortunately, neither M. Dunand, who published the entire hoard, nor A. Bellinger, who summarized the find in a later article, note the signature, which is visible in the plates of the hoard, but not clear enough to be read.