440, Lot: 192. Estimate $300. Sold for $500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CYPRUS, Lapethos. Sidqmelek(?). Circa 450-425 BC. AR Stater (21.5mm, 11.02 g, 1h). Helmeted head of Athena left / Helmeted head of Athena right; monogram to upper right; all in dotted square within incuse square. Cf. Zapiti & Michaelidou 2 (same obv. die, rev. type facing); cf. Tziambazis 48 (same obv. die as illustration, same); cf. ACGC 1093 (same obv. die, same); SNG Copenhagen –; CNG 437, lot 159 (same dies); CNG E-435, lot 129 (same dies). VF, lightly toned, struck from very worn obverse die. Extremely rare, unpublished in the standard references.

This coin is obverse die linked to an issue of Sidqmelek with the facing head Athena reverse type. However, those coins also have the name of the king on the reverse, which is not present on this issue. Thus, due to the die wear on the obverse, it is possible that this may be a coin of an unknown king that succeeded him.