Lot 1778

Description

Lydia, Sardeis, time of King Croesus or later, (c. 550-500 B.C.), silver plated (Fourree) half stater or siglos, (4.37 g), obv. confronting foreparts of lion, facing right, and bull facing left, rev. two incuse punches of unequal size, side by side, (S.3420, BMC 52 [p.8 a similar plated example], cf.Traite pl.10, 9, cf.SNG von Aulock 2877, I. Carradice, Coinage of the Persian Empire BAR Inter. Ser. 343, [1987], Pl.XI, 9). Toned, very fine and rare.

Ex Dr Busso Peus, Frankfurt, Auction Sale 332, October 23, 1991 (lot 4017 part).
Plated coins are found across the coin issuing 'Greek' world. In most cases, fourrees are much less common than the same regular issue. The first fourrees were produced on these coins, being one of the first ancient silver coins produced in the Greek world. Consequently this plated siglos is much rarer than the silver issue, and consequently places a time when plated coins were first produced.