Triton XIV, Lot: 364. Estimate $1000. Sold for $3750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PHOENICIA, Arados. Circa 348/7-339/8 BC. AR Stater (16mm, 10.64 g, 9h). Dated CY 5 (344/3 BC). Head of marine deity right, wearing laurel wreath / Galley right above waves; || ||| (date) and Aramaic N AM above. Cf. Betlyon 29; Rouvier -; cf. HGC 10, 36; SNG Copenhagen -; Heritage, 3 January 2010, lot 21286; CNG E-203, lot 213; CNG E-124, lot 100. Superb EF, light mark on cheek. Among the finest known.

Until recently, all of the known dated issues of Arados have been struck under the city’s last king, Gerostratos. On those coins, however, the third Aramaic letter (from the right) is always a G, presumably for the first letter of the king’s name. On this coin, the third letter is an Aramaic N. This letter is known to occur with the Aramaic AM (mint signature) on issues of Betlyon’s Fifth Aradian Series, but never accompanied by a civic year date.