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NYINC Signature Sale 3097 10 Jan 2022
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Ancients
LYDIAN KINGDOM. Time of Ardys-Alyattes (ca. 620-560 BC). Kukas (Gyges). EL third-stater or trite (13mm, 4.71 gm). NGC XF★ 5/5 - 5/5. Sardes. KYKALIM (Lydian, retrograde), legend between confronting heads of roaring female lions / Two incuse square punches of different size, side-by-side, with irregular interior surfaces. Wallace, KUKALIṂ, pl. I, 1-4. Weidauer Group XVIII (unlisted denomination). Traité -. SNG Kayhan -. Extremely rare. Contrasting toning on matte surfaces with a nearly full legend all contribute to the incredible eye appeal of this attractive early issue.
This extremely rare electrum hecte bears the inscription KUKALIM in Lydian script, but exactly what this legend means, or who it represents, is as yet a mystery. Seemingly contemporary (but far more common) hectes and trites are inscribed WALWET; transliterated to Greek, this is rendered as "of Alyattes," an early king of Lydia circa 610-560 BC. With a similar transliteration, KUKALIM can be rendered as "of Gyges," and a king of that name is known to have reigned in Lydia, by varying estimations, either circa 716-678 BC or 680-644 BC. In fact Gyges founded the Mermnad Dynasty, to which the later Alyattes and Croesus belonged. This Gyges is also believed to have inspired the Biblical King Gog mentioned in Ezekial and Revelation. Tempting as it is to assign the KUKALIM coins to him, scholars have demonstrated that they cannot have been struck that early, and in fact die links with the reverse punches show that they were struck contemporaneously with those of Alyattes. The most likely possibility is that the Gyges mentioned on the coin is a later member of the Mermnad Dynasty who was named after the founder, who either reigned jointly with Alyattes or as governor of a Lydian province.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-lydian-kingdom-time-of-ardys-alyattes-ca-620-560-bc-kukas-gyges-el-third-stater-or-trite-13mm-471/a/3097-30024.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3097-01102022
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 8000-10000 USD
LYDIAN KINGDOM. Time of Ardys-Alyattes (ca. 620-560 BC). Kukas (Gyges). EL third-stater or trite (13mm, 4.71 gm). NGC XF★ 5/5 - 5/5. Sardes. KYKALIM (Lydian, retrograde), legend between confronting heads of roaring female lions / Two incuse square punches of different size, side-by-side, with irregular interior surfaces. Wallace, KUKALIṂ, pl. I, 1-4. Weidauer Group XVIII (unlisted denomination). Traité -. SNG Kayhan -. Extremely rare. Contrasting toning on matte surfaces with a nearly full legend all contribute to the incredible eye appeal of this attractive early issue.
This extremely rare electrum hecte bears the inscription KUKALIM in Lydian script, but exactly what this legend means, or who it represents, is as yet a mystery. Seemingly contemporary (but far more common) hectes and trites are inscribed WALWET; transliterated to Greek, this is rendered as "of Alyattes," an early king of Lydia circa 610-560 BC. With a similar transliteration, KUKALIM can be rendered as "of Gyges," and a king of that name is known to have reigned in Lydia, by varying estimations, either circa 716-678 BC or 680-644 BC. In fact Gyges founded the Mermnad Dynasty, to which the later Alyattes and Croesus belonged. This Gyges is also believed to have inspired the Biblical King Gog mentioned in Ezekial and Revelation. Tempting as it is to assign the KUKALIM coins to him, scholars have demonstrated that they cannot have been struck that early, and in fact die links with the reverse punches show that they were struck contemporaneously with those of Alyattes. The most likely possibility is that the Gyges mentioned on the coin is a later member of the Mermnad Dynasty who was named after the founder, who either reigned jointly with Alyattes or as governor of a Lydian province.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-lydian-kingdom-time-of-ardys-alyattes-ca-620-560-bc-kukas-gyges-el-third-stater-or-trite-13mm-471/a/3097-30024.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3097-01102022
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 8000-10000 USD