Egypt Under Persia

CNG 85, Lot: 530. Estimate $2000. Sold for $4500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

EGYPT, Persian Administration. Sabakes. Circa 340-333 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 16.88 g, 9h). Imitating Athens. Helmeted head of Athena right / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig, crescent, and Aramaic(?) inscription to left, "Sabakes symbol" and Aramaic SWYK to right. Van Alfen Type III, - (O11/R- [unlisted rev. die]); Nicolet-Pierre, Monnaies - (O11/R- [unlisted rev. die]); SNG Copenhagen (Ptolemies) 4 (same obv. die). Good VF, small test cut on reverse. Well struck on a broad flan, with no countermarks. Very rare, van Alfen records 17 examples of this type.