CNG 96, Lot: 403. Estimate $2000. Sold for $2300. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

AEOLIS, Aigai. Circa 151-143 BC. AR Tetradrachm (31mm, 16.41 g, 12h). Stephanophoric type. Wreathed head of Apollo Smintheos right, bow and quiver over shoulder / Zeus standing left, holding eagle and scepter; monogram to left; all within oak-wreath. SNG Ashmolean 1252; SNG von Aulock 1595; SNG Copenhagen 6. Good VF, toned, a couple minor die breaks on obverse, small area of flat strike on reverse. Very rare.

Of all the mints to strike tetradrachms of stephanophoric type, Aigai had one of the smallest outputs, with just four obverse dies known today (cf. U. Westermark, “En tetradrachm från Aigai i Aiolis” in Festscrift Lagerqvist, pp. 471–5).