Rare Oinoanda Didrachm

289, Lot: 131. Estimate $1000. Sold for $1400. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LYCIA, Oinoanda. Circa 200 BC. AR Didrachm (21mm, 8.22 g, 12h). Dated CY 3? (186/5? BC). Laureate head of Zeus right, with lotus-tipped scepter over shoulder; B behind / Eagle standing right on winged thunderbolt, wings closed, bunch of grapes and Γ (year) in right field. Ashton, Oinoanda 11 (A4/P7); DCA 594. Good VF, toned. Rare.

This short series of coinage from Oinoanda was apparently struck in three series, each marked with A, B, or Γ. While these letters may represent dates of a local era, Ashton’s study shows this is far from conclusive, regardless that they were struck sequentially. The obverse die used for this coin was originally used for series 2 didrachms, thus the B on the obverse.