Lot 5120

Description

Caria, Caunos (Kaunos)?, uncertain ruler, (c.490-470 B.C.), silver stater, (11.828 grams), obv. winged back and feet of a muscular Hermes with outstretched arm in kneeling-running position to left, Carian lettered monogram OY to right, rev. four part incused field with various symbols, including a human head, a bull's head to right, a ram's head to left the Carian lettered monogram OY with a central vase, (S.-, SNG Von Aulock 2343 [same dies]; Hyla Troxell 'Winged Carians' in Essays Thompson, No.35 [same dies] published as a unique coin type, cf.Asyut Hoard 686). Small flan, head of flan, weakly struck as are all known examples, otherwise good fine and extremely rare.

Apparently from a recent hoard that contained several examples of this type. A similar example was in Giessener Munzhandlung Sale 96 June 7, 1999 (lot 194 est 1200DM), another example was in Noble Numismatics Auction Sale 72 (lot 3328 and realised $780 + 16.5%) and more recently in New York January 2005, the Gemini I sale (lot 168, realised $1500US). The attribution of this anonymous archaic coin has been given to Kaunos by the cataloguer of that Giessener Munzhandlung sale and to Mint 2 (uncertain) by Troxell. Mint 2 is probably one of three candidates, Calynda, Cyra or Telandria. The reverse of this coin in unique in ancient coinage, in that it divides the incuse square into corners and central area each displaying a minute image; these images include a bull’s head, a vase, a human head, a ram’s head and the OY monogram in Carian script. The various objects are all placed on a granulated field highlighting the subject to much better advantage. A most interesting coin.