CNG 96, Lot: 428. Estimate $500. Sold for $950. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

IONIA, Achaemenid Period. Autophradates. Satrap of Sparda (Lydia and Ionia), circa 380s-350s BC. AR Diobol(?) (10mm, 1.05 g, 11h). Head left, wearing satrapal cap / Head of horse left; OATA above, [ΠO monogram to lower left]. Winzer 11.1; Meadows, Administration 344; Traité II 67; BMC 20. Good VF, toned, off center. Very rare.

Autophradates distinguished himself in the Great Satraps’ Revolt (365-360 BC) by supporting Artaxerxes II and imprisoning the satrap of Lydia and Ionia, Artabazos (Dem. Aristoc. 671). In 333 BC, Autophradates, along with his fellow-commander, Pharnabazos, took over the Persian fleet and completed the siege of Mytilene, which had been begun by Memnon. In the Greek revolts which arose in the Aegean and western Asia Minor as a result of Alexander III’s victories, Autophradates tried to return these areas to Persian control (Arr. Anab. 2.1; Arist. Pol. 2.4.10). Little else is known of his subsequent career, although it is possible that he was among those satraps who presented themselves before Alexander at Zadracarta (Arr. Anab. 3.23).