CNG 97, Lot: 429. Estimate $1000. Sold for $1100. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KYRENAICA, Kyrene. Circa 435-331 BC. AV Tenth Stater (7.5mm, 0.86 g, 12h). Aristios, magistrate. Head of Apollo Karneios right; API-ΣTIOΣ (retrograde) around / Head of Kyrene right. Cf. Naville 17/16 (for obv./rev. dies); cf. SNG Copenhagen 1195/1194 (for obv./rev. dies); cf. BMC 138/68 (for obv./rev. dies). VF, red toning around the devices. Very rare.

This coin represents a previously unknown step between Naville’s 16 and 17. However, such a coin is not unexpected, as 16 and 17 share the same obverse die, with the only difference being that the magistrate’s name was added to the die at some later time. Previously, it was thought that the name was added when the new reverse, with Kyrene’s head left, was produced, but this coin shows that the name was added while the obverse die was still paired with the earlier reverse die showing Kyrene’s head right.