435, Lot: 128. Estimate $750. Sold for $1500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CYPRUS, Lapethos. Sidqmelek(?). Circa 450-425 BC. AR Stater (20.5mm, 10.96 g, 10h). Helmeted head of Athena left / Helmeted head of Athena facing in dotted square within incuse square. ACGC 1093 var. (same obv. die, king’s name on rev.); Zapiti & Michaelidou 2 var. (same obv. die, same); Tziambazis 48 var. (same obv. die as illustration, same); SNG Copenhagen –; Roma XVI, lot 347 (same dies); NAC 52, lot 791 (same dies); Numismatic Naumann 71, lot 264 (same dies); Savoca Online 2, lot 254 (same dies). VF, struck with very worn obverse die. Very rare, only three in CoinArchives, missing from the standard references.

This coin is obverse die linked to an issue of Sidqmelek, also with the facing head Athena reverse type. However, those coins also have the name of the king on the reverse, which is not present on this issue. Thus, due to the die wear on the obverse, it is possible that this may be a coin of an unknown king that succeeded him.