Lot 2067

Description

Thrace, Kingdom of, Lysimachos, (323-281 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (16.92 g), Ainos Mint, issued after 282/1-280 B.C., obv. head of Alexander to right, with diadem and horn of Ammon, within dotted circle, rev. Athena enthroned to left, supporting Nike, spear behind, thymiaterion above cult statue of Hermes Perpheraios set on throne), to right **BASILEWS*, to left **LUSIMAXOU*, (cf.S.6814, Muller 118, Thompson -, Armenak -, SNG Berry 406 [same dies], HGC 3, 1750r Meydancikkale 2691 [Pl.79]). Well centred, full flan, good very fine/very fine and very rare, only a few examples of this mint in Coin Archives.

Ex Anthony (Tony) Taylor Collection.^Noble Numismatics Sale 129, lot 3169. Previously Spink & Son, London, December 20, 1995, (noted as ex hoard).^^The current understanding of this issue places it with a local Dynast, Skostokos as the issuer.^A CNG comment on this type and mint follows:^While previous scholars viewed Skostokos as a dynast who took control of parts of Thrace following Lysimachos' death, Fischer-Bossert's die study demonstrates that Skostokos was most likely a local dynast of the environs around Ainos, who ruled under Lysimachos, and was permitted to strike Lysimachi beginning late in the king's reign. Current scholarship suggests he ruled from circa 285/4-273/2 BC (see, e.g., E. Paunov, "Introduction to the Numismatics of Thrace" in J. Valeva, et al., A Companion to Ancient Thrace, p. 280, fig. 18.4). Skostokos apparently continued to strike Lysimachi in the chaotic period following the latter's death, before Seleukid authority could be established in Thrace (Courtesy of CNG for this note).