Triton XXII, Lot: 264. Estimate $2000. Sold for $6500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of LYDIA. Kroisos. Circa 564/53-550/39 BC. AR Hemistater (15mm, 5.28 g). Sardes mint. Confronted foreparts of lion and bull / Two incuse squares of unequal size. Berk 23; Traité –; SNG Kayhan –; SNG Ashmolean –; CNG 87, lot 552; CNG E-423, lot 182; Demeester 136 (this coin). Good VF, attractively toned. Exceptional metal for issue. Rare.

Ex Antiqua inventory 3580; J. FALM Collection of Miniature Masterpieces of Greek Coinage depicting Animals (Numismatica Ars Classica 82, 20 May 2015), lot 203.

The rare hemistaters of Kroisos should not be confused with the common later Persian sigloi of Kroiseid type, which are struck at the same weight, but have a highly stylized lion and bull.