Sale: Triton VI, Lot: 483. Estimate $4000.  Closing Date: Monday, 13 January 2003.  Sold For $6500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PERSIA, Achaemenid Kings. Circa 375-332 BC. AV Daric (8.36 gm). Persian king or hero right, in kneeling-running stance, long pointed beard, bow case over shoulder, holding transverse spear and bow / Incuse punch with ornate swirling design. Carradice Type IIIb, 51; BMC Arabia etc, pg. 159, 84. EF. (See color enlargement on plate 2.) ($4000) 

Ex Numismatic Fine Arts XXV (29 November 1990), lot 192; Leu 38 (13 May 1989), lot 166. 

Although NFA termed this coin an unpublished variant, it appears to be a sharply struck example of the similar patterned reverse types published in the BM and Carrradice's work. The elaboration of the reverse die work does not indicate an attempt to create a true reverse type, but rather the celator exploring the possibilities in pure design, refining the rough incuse surfaces of the earlier darics.