Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XXIII 24-25 Mar 2022
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Cyprus, Salamis AR Stater. Uncertain king, circa 480-460 BC. Recumbent ram to right; Cypriot syllabic 'na' before, Cypriot syllabic 'a-pu-ke(?)' above, Cypriot syllabic '?-mo-?' in exergue / Large ornate ankh enclosing Cypriot syllabic 'ba', Cypriot syllabic 'si-le-wo-se' around; all within incuse square. Unpublished in the standard references. 11.40g, 22mm, 4h.
Good Very Fine. Unpublished and apparently unique, and potentially of great historical significance.
From the inventory of a UK dealer.
Though Cyprus in general (and Salamis in particular) formed part of the Persian Empire, it enjoyed a special independence, autonomous coinage and royal status under the Great King of Kings at Persepolis to whom it paid an annual tribute. Based the evidence deduced from properly studied hoards such as Lanarca (IGCH 1272), Zagazig (IGCH 1645) and Asyut (IGCH 1644), the earliest double sigloi with blank reversed are to be dated to the time of Dareios I 'the Great' in about 515-500 BC on the Persian weight standard (cf. ACGC 1078).
It has long been recognized that all the issues in the name of city-king dynastic founder Euelthon (c. 560-525 BC), were in fact issued by his successors. From about 480 BC the coinage is characterised by the ankh reverse type, originally an Egyptian symbol which by this time is associate with the ruling dynasty, surrounded by Cypriote syllables approximating to the Greek royal title Basileose. The obverse recumbent ram types are surrounded by Cypriote king names of which Euelthon (posthumous), Gorgos (BMC 23-7), Phausis (Kagan & McGregor op. cit.), Nikodamos (BMC 31-2) and Euanthos (BMC 38-9) have hitherto been recorded. History is silent on the confused period that followed the failed Athenian led encroachments of 450/49 BC, but it can be assumed that Salamis was left to its own devices as long as its kings paid tribute to the Great King. The proposed approximate date of the above enigmatic issue, which hopefully will one day be deciphered, is based on it probably representing one of the last ram/ankh issues before the reverse ram's head type change by the otherwise unknown King Euanthes, in circa 430 BC (BMC 38-9).
Good Very Fine. Unpublished and apparently unique, and potentially of great historical significance.
From the inventory of a UK dealer.
Though Cyprus in general (and Salamis in particular) formed part of the Persian Empire, it enjoyed a special independence, autonomous coinage and royal status under the Great King of Kings at Persepolis to whom it paid an annual tribute. Based the evidence deduced from properly studied hoards such as Lanarca (IGCH 1272), Zagazig (IGCH 1645) and Asyut (IGCH 1644), the earliest double sigloi with blank reversed are to be dated to the time of Dareios I 'the Great' in about 515-500 BC on the Persian weight standard (cf. ACGC 1078).
It has long been recognized that all the issues in the name of city-king dynastic founder Euelthon (c. 560-525 BC), were in fact issued by his successors. From about 480 BC the coinage is characterised by the ankh reverse type, originally an Egyptian symbol which by this time is associate with the ruling dynasty, surrounded by Cypriote syllables approximating to the Greek royal title Basileose. The obverse recumbent ram types are surrounded by Cypriote king names of which Euelthon (posthumous), Gorgos (BMC 23-7), Phausis (Kagan & McGregor op. cit.), Nikodamos (BMC 31-2) and Euanthos (BMC 38-9) have hitherto been recorded. History is silent on the confused period that followed the failed Athenian led encroachments of 450/49 BC, but it can be assumed that Salamis was left to its own devices as long as its kings paid tribute to the Great King. The proposed approximate date of the above enigmatic issue, which hopefully will one day be deciphered, is based on it probably representing one of the last ram/ankh issues before the reverse ram's head type change by the otherwise unknown King Euanthes, in circa 430 BC (BMC 38-9).