334, Lot: 551. Estimate $200. Sold for $140. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Lead tetarteron weight. Hellenistic, circa 3rd century BC. Forepart of lion right, head facing; Λ–Y/Σ–I around, TE monogram below / Blank. Diameter: 37mm; weight: 113.9 g. See CNG 72, lot 2725 (3rd weight) for another example. Near VF.

It is uncertain if the legend refers to Lysimachos, whose lion symbol was frequently used on his coinage, or, perhaps more likely, Lysimacheia, his eponymous capital built in 309 BC. If the latter is true, Lysimachos’ symbol would still be entirely appropriate. Interestingly, a similar weight featuring a full lion leaping right and the legends ΛY above and ΣMY below can be attributed to Smyrna in Ionia, another important city within Lysimachos’ realm (see Rochesnard p. 83)