Lot 2610

Description

Paeonia, Kingdom of, Lykkeios, (c.356-335 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (12.258 grams), obv. laureate head of Zeus to right, dotted border, rev. Hercules to left strangling the Nemean lion to right, around **LUK K EIOU, behind bow and quiver, (S.1518, SNG ANS 1019, Gaebler 8, Paeonian Hoard 63 same obverse die). Obverse slightly off centre, otherwise attractive good fine/good very fine and a rare type.

The obverse die shows signs of reworking, it must have been the only obverse die used for this issue. A curious feature is the raised square that appears on the laurel wreath of Zeus although rather worn on this coin. It looks less like a deliberate part of the design than the tip of a punch that (accidently) marred the die. The reverse die was not found in the Paeonian hoard.