Lot 51
Phoenicia. Sidon. Abd'Ashtart I, 372-358 BC. AR Double Shekel (25.46 g), struck 370/369 BC. War galley traveling left with painted eye design; armed figurehead stands at prow, shields line the bulwarks, and a standard at the stern; below, waves comprised of four lines of zigzags; above, three lines, III (= regnal year 3 = 370/369 BC); cable border around. Reverse: Slow quadriga left, behind the driver stands the Great King of Persia, with hand raised, walking behind is Abd'Ashtart in Egyptian-style garb, holding cult scepter and votive vase; above left, 'bh in Phoenician letters; cable-bead border around. BMC p. 145, 29; Betlyon, A New Chronology for the pre-Alexandrine Coinage of Sidon, in: ANSMN 21 (1976), no. 21. Choice strike on very round flan of better metal, with remarkably legible reverse. Toned, irregularly so on the reverse in a few areas where some field roughness is evident. In terms of strike, detail, and preservation, this is one of the best overall examples to be seen on the market in many years, thus rare. NGC graded Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000.
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| Realized $21,275 |
