Sale: Nomos 2, Lot: 46. Estimate CHF5000.  Closing Date: Monday, 17 May 2010.  Sold For CHF4000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of THRACE. Lysimachos. 305-281 BC. Stater (Gold, 8.53 g), uncertain mint, struck circa 280s-250s BC. Diademed head of Alexander III to right, ram’s horn over his ear. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ Athena seated left on throne, resting her left elbow on her shield and holding Nike in her outstretched right hand; below throne, two crossed arrows over grape cluster. Müller -. Thompson- . A lovely coin of excellent style. Extremely fine.

The coinage of Lysimachos proved to be very popular, not only during his lifetime but afterwards as well: both gold and silver issues continued to be produced until the 1st century BC. This lovely stater, with a symbol on the throne that is apparently unknown (or at least unpublished), could well have been struck during Lysimachos’ lifetime but the size of the head and general appearance suggest it is an early posthumous issue.