The Tomb of Battus

416, Lot: 297. Estimate $300. Sold for $220. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KYRENAICA, Kyrene. First Revolt of the Kyrenaikans. Circa 313-312 BC. Æ (22mm, 12.12 g, 10h). Head of Zeus-Ammon right / Tomb of Battus: column on mound, surmounted by urn. Asolati 24a; SNG Copenhagen 1218; BMC p. lxvii, 187c-e. Fine, green-brown patina, off center on obverse. Very rare.

Battus I was the founder of Kyrene and the first king of Kyrenaica. He died circa 600 BC, after which he was buried within the boundaries of Kyrene (being entombed within a city’s limits was a rare honor in antiquity). Ruins near Kyrene’s ancient agora are thought by some scholars to belong to Battus’ tomb.