Sale: CNG 66, Lot: 708. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 19 May 2004.  Sold For $300. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SAMARIA. Circa 375-333 BCE. AR Obol (0.80 gm). Persian king seated right, holding flower to nose and sceptre, thymiaterion before; Aramaic "BT" (Bagabatas) around / Persian king slaying a bull, pellet in center. Meshorer & Qedar 6. Toned EF, some striking weakness. ($300)

From the Bellaria Collection. Ex Sternberg 24 (19-20 November 1990), lot 148; Nablus Hoard.

Bagabatas is unknown, but must have been a Persian administrator in Samaria. The obverse design is derived from the seated king on staters of Mazaios of Myriandros (cf. SNG France 422).