Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 121 6-8 Oct 2022
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
PHOENICIA, Sidon. `Abd`aštart (Straton) I. Circa 365-352 BC. AR Half Shekel (16mm, 6.31 g, 12h). Dated RY 13 (353/2). Phoenician galley left; |||– (13 in Phoenician) above, waves below / King of Persia and driver in chariot drawn by two horses left; 'B (in Phoenician) above. E&E-S Group IV.5.2.b., dies D–/R2 corr. (date, king [see below]); HGC 10, 243 (unlisted date); DCA 851 (same). Toned, deposits, a couple of marks on reverse. VF. Extremely rare with this date on a half shekel, and the only example with the date visible.
The Elayis placed coins with this reverse die under `Abd`aštart (Straton) II, but the date on all three examples they recorded had their date obscured or off the flan. The present coin, with a clear date of 13, is an impossible date for `Abd`aštart (Straton) II, who ruled for only 10 years. As such, this issue must be reattributed to `Abd`aštart (Straton) I, who ruled for 14 years. Issues dated to year 13 were previously known for a variety of his denominations, but not his half shekels.
The Elayis placed coins with this reverse die under `Abd`aštart (Straton) II, but the date on all three examples they recorded had their date obscured or off the flan. The present coin, with a clear date of 13, is an impossible date for `Abd`aštart (Straton) II, who ruled for only 10 years. As such, this issue must be reattributed to `Abd`aštart (Straton) I, who ruled for 14 years. Issues dated to year 13 were previously known for a variety of his denominations, but not his half shekels.