287, Lot: 194. Estimate $1000. Sold for $2100. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of LYDIA. Alyattes(?). Circa 610-560 BC. EL Trite – 1/3 Stater (13mm, 4.70 g). Sardes mint. Confronted lion heads (only the left-facing entirely, with knob on forehead) / Two incuse square punches. Weidauer -; SNG Kayhan -; SNG von Aulock -; Linzalone LN1080 (same die and punch). VF. Very rare.

This type is very similar to the trites and hektes of Alyattes (“Walwel”), and it is perhaps to this ruler whom we should assign the issue. Certain features, however, differentiate it from the Alyattes’ normal issues. First, the lions’ heads are not aligned in the typical fashion but off-set. Secondly, the name “Walwel” is normally found separating the two lions. While there may be traces of a legend before the lower jaw of the left-facing lion on the current coin, it is clearly not dividing the lions in the typical fashion. As the obverse die used to strike the coinage was oversized with much of the overall design obscured (the example in Linzalone’s work is similarly centered), further clarification must await the appearance of additional examples.