Sale: CNG 70, Lot: 418. Estimate $2000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 21 September 2005.  Sold For $1400. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

EGYPT, Persian Administration. Sabakes. Circa 340-333 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.94 g, 8h). Imitating Athens. Helmeted head of Athena right / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig, crescent, and Aramaic(?) inscription to left, "Sabakes symbol" and Aramaic SWYK to right; two countermarks. Van Alfen Type III, 29 (O11/R23); Nicolet-Pierre, Monnaies 23 (O11/R23); SNG Copenhagen (Ptolemies) 4 (same obv. die); countermarks: Van Alfen 3 and 41. VF, toned, slight roughness. Very rare. ($2000)

Sabakes, the penultimate Persian satrap in Egypt, fell in battle against Alexander the Great at Issos. His successor, Mazakes, handed over Egypt to the Macedonians in 332 BC.