Recognizing an Unrecognized Variety

CNG 102, Lot: 362. Estimate $3000. Sold for $5500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 550-500 BC. EL Stater (19mm, 16.07 g). Hound (or wolf) at bay left on tunny left / Quadripartite incuse square. FSD SHM 1200 = Hermitage (Exhibition) 112 = Hermitage Sale II 1157 corr. (not Von Fritze 93); Album 20, lot 15 corr. (same); Roma V, lot 371 corr. (same); otherwise unpublished. VF, toned, slightly off center. Extremely rare, one of four known.

From the LVL Collection.

This type is very similar to Von Fritze I 93, but on that issue, the hound/wolf is clearly raising a forepaw (cf. SNG France 230). The appearance of this stater now makes it clear that some of the fractions attributed to Von Fritze 93 are actually of the same variety as the present piece, and have been known for some time. For instance, the hekte CNG 99, lot 182 is clearly Von Fritze 93, with a forepaw raised, while SNG France 232 (like the following lot), with forepaw lowered, is not. Unfortunately, on some dies the foreleg is engraved straight out, such that it is not possible to discern to which variety a coin can be attributed (cf. SNG France 231 [hekte] and Roma 10, lot 484 [stater]), unless the straight leg constitutes even another variety.