CNG 100, Lot: 1487. Estimate $300. Sold for $190. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LYDIA, Uncertain (Sardes?). 4th century BC. Æ (12mm, 1.55 g, 12h). Head of Dionysios left, wearing ivy wreath / Kantharos; F (in Lydian) and S (in Lydian) flanking. Vögtli, Pergamon 524; CNG E-248, lot 119 (Syros). Good VF, brown patina. Very rare.

Ex Gorny & Mosch 203 (5 March 2012), lot 197 (attributed to Naxos).

In previous sales, this issue has been variously attributed to either Cycladic Naxos or Syros. While both cities struck coins with the same types as on this issue, all of these cities’ bronzes consistently bear the first two letters of their respective ethnic flanking the base of the kantharos. On this issue, however, these Greek letters have been replaced by two Lydian letters, allowing its correct attribution to a mint in Lydia. Sardes is a possibility, as it’s spelling in Lydian was Sfard. (CNG would like to thank Costas Kanellopoulos for correcting the prior attributions, and pointing out Vögtli’s publication of this issue.)