Unique Hemistater

CNG 105, Lot: 425. Estimate $500. Sold for $1300. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PHOENICIA, Arados. Gerashtart (Gerostratos). Circa 339/8-after 332 BC. AR Hemistater (17mm, 6.62 g, 6h). Dated RY 2 (339/8 BC). Radiate head of marine deity right, wearing laurel wreath / Galley right, Pataikos on prow, above waves; G 2 M A (in Aramaic = “Gerashtart [year] 2 king [of] Arados”) above. Unpublished. VF, toned. Apparently unique, no references list any hemistaters for Arados in the pre-Alexandrine period.

The style of this piece is somewhat unusual for the series, especially the radiate portrait on the obverse. Also the weight is high for the denomination, which should be near 5.30 grams. This anomalous piece is hard to interpret. Perhaps it is a special or branch mint issue on a different weight standard for a particular purpose.