318, Lot: 458. Estimate $100. Sold for $130. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PHOENICIA, Berytus. Elagabalus. AD 218-222. Æ (30mm, 24.03 g, 6h). Laureate and cuirassed bust right / Tyche-Astarte standing facing, with left foot on prow, holding stylis in right hand; to right, Nike on short column, crowning her; all with tetrastyle temple. Sawaya – (but obv. die D340). Good Fine, dusty green patina.

An apparently rare obverse die with bust seen from front, which Sawaya only knew of from one coin (his no. 1705). That coin features a more ornate temple with sculptural acroteria along the roofline and Cupids riding dolphins to either side of the steps.