Search


CNG Bidding Platform

Information

Products and Services



Research Coins: Feature Auction

 
Sale: CNG 72, Lot: 830. Estimate $1000. 
Closing Date: Wednesday, 14 June 2006. 
Sold For $2000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CILICIA, Soloi. Uncertain satrap. Circa 380-333 BC. AR Stater (9.95 g, 6h). Bearded head of Herakles right, lion's skin tied around neck / Head of satrap right, wearing Persian headdress; S-O-L-I-K-O-N faintly visible around. SNG France 163 var. (ethnic); SNG Levante 153 corr. var. (anepigraphic; same obv. die); Winzer 10.4 corr. (mint). EF, toned.



Levante attributed his anepigraphic version (Levante 153) of this type to Mallos based on a perceived similarity of style between his coin and an example in BMC. This coin, however, struck from the same obverse die as the Levante piece, has a reverse with the ethnic of Soloi visible (albeit faintly), thus forcing a reattribution of the anepigraphic variety from Mallos to Soloi.

Winzer's attribution to Tiribazos is based on the similarity of this coin's portrait to others bearing that satrap's name. However, as the date of this this issue, 380-333 BC, falls after the conclusion of Tiribazos' tenure as satrap in 385 BC, it is difficult to assign this issue to him. Winzer's own conclusion about the satrapal portrait on his 10.4, which he calls an "idealisiertes Satrapenportrait," further undercuts the attribution to Tiribazos. Given the dating of this issue it is possible that the portrait is of Autophradates, or perhaps an idealized portrait of the great king himself in satrapal garb (cf. the Alexander Mosaic at Herculaneum).