Three Rare & Interesting Lycian Hemiobols

287, Lot: 208. Estimate $150. Sold for $360. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

DYNASTS of LYCIA. Uncertain dynast. Circa 480/70-430 BC. AR Hemiobol (6mm, 0.27 g, 12h). Forepart of boar right / Leashed head and neck of hound left. Falghera -; Vismara -; SNG Copenhagen Supp. -; Traité II 184; Peus 360, lot 19 (same rev. die) = Aufhäuser 7, lot 232 = Aufhäuser 5, lot 139. Good VF, light porosity. Very rare.

Babelon (Traité des monnaies Grecques et Romaines) describes the reverse as a wolf with a crescent before it, which would be easy to misinterpret from the poorly preserved specimen he plated. On the current and following lot, however, it is clear the animals are leashed. This and the following two lots no doubt refer to the royal hunt, with the prey on the obverse and the hunting companion – a hound – on the reverse.