426, Lot: 171. Estimate $500. Sold for $700. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

AEOLIS, Myrina. Circa 160-143 BC. AR Tetradrachm (34.5mm, 16.59 g, 1h). Stephanophoric type. Laureate head of Apollo right / Apollo Grynios standing right, holding phiale and filleted laurel branch; monogram to left, omphalos and amphora at feet to right; all within laurel wreath. Sacks Issue 4 var. (monogram [see below]), obv. die 6 (unlisted for issue); SNG Copenhagen –; BMC 19 var. (same). Good VF, lightly toned.

The monogram on this piece is similar to Issue 4, but the crossbar in the A is not in a chevron form. While this would appear to make this an example of Issue 20, the style of both the obverse and reverse here are akin to the early, “tightly-braided” issues, and the top bar of the monogram extends beyond the two vertical uprights, as Issue 4, and contrary to Issue 20. Moreover, the obverse die here is too early for Issue 20. Thus, this coin represents a variation on Issue 4, perhaps issued slightly later, but before the “three-braided” issues.