CNG 88, Lot: 499. Estimate $300. Sold for $320. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PHOENICIA, Byblos (Gebal). Uncertain king. Circa 410-404 BC. AR Sixteenth Shekel (8mm, 0.56 g). Sphinx recumbent left, wearing double crown of Egypt / Lightning bolt of Baal Hadad (or double lotus) in dotted circle within incuse square. Betlyon 3 corr. (rev. type); Rouvier 628 corr. (same); HGC 10, 122 corr. (denomination). VF, toned. Very rare.

Both Betlyon and Rouvier describe the reverse type as being a lion rather than a lightning bolt/double lotus. However, Betlyon simply repeats the original error made by Rouvier, whose illustration of the type clearly shows a lightning bolt (or double lotus).