Unpublished Side / Holmoi Stater

Sale: CNG 78, Lot: 895. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 14 May 2008.  Sold For $1800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ASIA MINOR, Uncertain Southern mint. Circa 380-333 BC. AR Stater (10.66 g, 3h). Athena Nikephoros standing left; coiled snake at feet to left / Apollo standing left, quiver over shoulder, holding patera and scepter; altar to left. Apparently unpublished. Near EF, toned. Well struck.

This piece is certainly associated with the similar issues at Pamphylian Side (SNG France 632-58) and Cilician Holmoi (SNG France 120). The Side issues all carry the city emblem, a pomegranate, in the obverse left field, and Atlan places the inscribed issues circa 370-333 BC. Similarly, the Holmoi issues all have a dolphin emblem in the obverse left field, though not a civic badge, and are dated by Casabonne circa 380-375 BC. While the snake on the present coin may indicate the mint of issue, this is unlikely, as no city in the region used a serpent as a civic emblem during the period in question.