CNG 91, Lot: 412. Estimate $500. Sold for $1200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

EASTERN EUROPE, Imitations of Philip II of Macedon. 2nd century BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 12.96 g, 1h). Head right, synthesizing features of laureate Zeus and helmeted Athena / Horseman riding left. OTA 290/2 corr. (same rev. die, not ‘Lysimachoskopf’ type); Lanz –; CCCBM I –; KMW –; CNG 57, lot 2 (same dies). VF, toned, scattered scuffs and scrapes. Extremely rare.

This interesting issue combines the upper hair and wreath of the head of Zeus combined with the helmet visor, hair, and face of Athena. While the overall type, with the horseman reverse, would classify this type as an imitation of Philip II type, the Athena component is clearly an imitation of the Athena head on the ubiquitous Alexander III type staters. The OTA 290/2 piece is from a different obverse die than the present piece, but is certainly of the same type. It was identified by OTA as deriving its obverse from the tetradrachms of Lysimachos, but this was due to the poor strike and an edge split that obscured the visor. That piece does not share the obverse type of OTA 290/1, and belongs to a different classification.