Nomos AG
Auction 23 30 Nov 2021
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DYNASTS OF LYCIA. Mithrapata, circa 390-370 BC. Diobol (Silver, 13 mm, 1.06 g, 1 h), Tlos. Lion's scalp facing. Rev. T-ΛA-FE Youthful bust facing, with elaborate hair and with a cloak fastened with a circular broach in front of the neck. Babelon, Traité II/2 445. Müseler, VII, 93. Reuter 124. Deeply toned. Struck from a broken obverse die and with a minor die flaw on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.
Is the bust on the reverse male or female? The way the hair covers the head and is depicted by lines of dots does look what one would expect to find on an archaic kouros (or kore), but this is certainly not an archaic figure. It has been suggested - in the Traité and elsewhere - that the bust is of Apollo, but where is his laurel wreath since he seems not be wearing one? Sometimes easy questions lack simple answers...
Is the bust on the reverse male or female? The way the hair covers the head and is depicted by lines of dots does look what one would expect to find on an archaic kouros (or kore), but this is certainly not an archaic figure. It has been suggested - in the Traité and elsewhere - that the bust is of Apollo, but where is his laurel wreath since he seems not be wearing one? Sometimes easy questions lack simple answers...