Extremely Rare Marathos Bronze – Unrecorded Date

CNG 99, Lot: 352. Estimate $500. Sold for $900. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PHOENICIA, Marathos. 228/7-224/3 BC. Æ (13.5mm, 3.04 g, 1h). Dated year 32 of the Aradian Era (228/7 BC). Laureate head of Zeus(?) right / Trophy; date (in Phoenician) to left. Duyrat, Ateliers, Series 3 var. (unlisted date); HGC 10, 199 var. (same); DCA 828 var. (same). VF, dark brown patina. Extremely rare, the second known example of this series, the first with this date.

The only previously known coin from this series was an example in the Berlin Museum reported by Imhoof-Blumer in NZ 1901 (p. 9, 2, pl. I, 13). The date on that example is unclear, but is at least year 33. The present coin is in much better condition, with a clear date. Interestingly, Imhoof-Blumer and others have described the obverse head as Zeus, but that piece was quite worn. The details are clear here, and show features more in line with a Hellenistic portrait than a stylized depiction of a deity. Whose portrait it may be, though, is uncertain.