CNG 90, Lot: 754. Estimate $200. Sold for $120. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PERSIA, Achaemenid Empire. Time of Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II. Circa 420-375 BC. AR Eighth Siglos (9mm, 0.61 g). Persian king or hero in kneeling-running right, holding spear and bow, quiver over shoulder / Incuse punch. Carradice Type IIIb C; BMC Arabia –; cf. Sunrise 26; cf. Gorny & Mosch 200, lot 2041. VF, toned. Very rare fraction.

This is an interesting fractional type that apparently spanned two different Carradice Type IIIb subgroups. The Gorny example has the canonical drapery of Carradice’s A/B subgroup, while the present coin has the drapery of Carradice’s subgroup C. The full drapery of the Sunrise coin is off the flan, but appears to be subgroup A/B. In any event, all three coins have the same unusual incuse on the reverse.