Lot 1716

Description

Lydia, Sardeis, time of King Croesus or later, (c.550-500 B.C.), silver half stater or siglos, (5.192 grams), obv. confronting foreparts of lion, facing right, and bull facing left, rev. two incuse punches of unequal size, side by side, (S.3420 [£450], BMC 41, Traite pl.10, 9, SNG von Aulock 2877, I. Carradice, Coinage of the Persian Empire BAR Inter. Ser. 343, [1987], Pl.XI, 9). Porous surface, dark areas of oxidation, otherwise nearly very fine and rare.

This is an historic and important silver coin from the earliest period of beginnings of coinage in the western world. From the style of this example Carradice assigns the issue to being late in the 6th century B.C.