Unique Variety

CNG 90, Lot: 796. Estimate $400. Sold for $320. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of PERSIS. Uncertain king I. 2nd century BC. AR Hemidrachm (12mm, 1.76 g, 4h). Head right with very short beard, wearing diadem and kyrbasia surmounted by eagle; uncertain design or letters on back of kyrbasia / Fire temple, Ahura-Mazda above; to left, king standing right; to right, standard surmounted by eagle. K&M 3/3 var. (crescent back of kyrbasia); Alram 548 var. (same); Sunrise -; otherwise, unpublished. EF, lightly toned. Apparently unique variety with possible letterforms on kyrbasia.

The marks on the cap are small, but, if they are letters, perhaps spell “dryw”, making this an issue of Dārēv and not Vādfradād in which case it would be a new type for Dārēv. This coin may represent the first issue of Dārēv, copying the types of Vādfradād with the addition of the inscription identifying the new king.