Triton XX, Lot: 213. Estimate $7500. Sold for $9000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 550-450 BC. EL Stater (20.5mm, 16.06 g). Lion at bay left on tunny left / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze I 42; Greenwell 104; Boston MFA –; SNG BN 182; BMC –; Gillet –; Gulbenkian –; Jameson –; Weber –. Near EF. Very rare, only one in CoinArchives (from the Prospero sale). Not to be confused with the more common von Fritze 84 (see note below).

Von Fritze 42, like some of the electrum issues of Kyzikos, is very similar to another issue, von Fritze 84, and can only be distinguished by subtle elements of the style. Here, the lion is poised with both front feet on the tunny, its jaws wide open, and the tail curved down between its hind legs. In contrast, on type 84, the lion has one forepaw raised, its mouth is only slightly opened, and its tail hangs down behind the tail of the tunny. While type 84 is relatively common, coins of type 42 are very rare.