Extremely Rare Eighth Siglos

313, Lot: 101. Estimate $150. Sold for $475. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PERSIA, Achaemenid Empire. temp. Artaxerxes II to Darios III. Circa 375-336 BC. AR Eighth Siglos (10mm, 0.67 g). Persian king in kneeling-running stance right, holding spear and bow / Patterned incuse punch. Cf. Carradice Type IIIb Late (no silver known); BMC Arabia –; Sunrise 26 corr. (obv. type and date; same rev. punch). Good VF, lightly toned, a little off center. Excellent metal. Extremely rare.

The Sunrise piece was off-center such that the form of the drapery on the king, which is determinative of the Carradice Type, was not visible. On this example, it is clear that the drapery is of Type IIIb Group C and Type IIIb Late. The “patterned” reverse punch, though, clearly places this issue in the latter Type, Type IIIb Late. This is the only silver issue known for this type.