Sale: CNG 81, Lot: 2472. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 20 May 2009.  Sold For $280. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ARGOLIS, Argos. Circa 90-50 BC. AR Triobol (2.30 g, 9h). Leykios, magistrate. Forepart of wolf at bay right / Large A; Λ-EY/K-I/O-Σ in three lines around, herm below crossbar; all within incuse square. BCD Peloponnesos 1161. Good VF, toned, minor die wear on obverse. Very rare.

Ex BCD Collection (not in LHS sale).

As noted in the LHS catalog, “[t]he appearance of the Roman name Lucius on this coin is not surprising since there seems to have been an association of Italian merchants in Argos from at least the start of the 1st century. However, it can be argued that this association actually moved to Argos in 69 from its former base in Delos, which was destroyed in that year by the pirate Athenodoros (Warren 1999, n. 80). If this is the case, this coin may have been struck by one of its members as a gift of thanks to the Argives around that time.”