CYPRUS, Salamis. Pnytagoras. Circa 351/0-332/1 BC. AV Stater (17mm, 8.31 g, 12h). Near EF.

CNG Feature Auction 130
Lot: 206. Estimated: $ 30 000

Greek, 12h, Gold

Sold For $ 90 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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CYPRUS, Salamis. Pnytagoras. Circa 351/0-332/1 BC. AV Stater (17mm, 8.31 g, 12h). Draped bust of Aphrodite left, hair rolled above forehead and falling in long wavy strands to front and back of shoulder, wearing turreted crown, triple-pendant earring, and beaded necklace; ΠN to right / Draped bust of male left, with long sideburn and hair in tight ringlets falling down back of neck, wearing crown decorated with semicircular plates, hoop earring with pendants, and torque; BA to right. Markou, L'or 421 (D4/R8); Zapiti & Michaelidou 22; Tziambazis 132; Gulbenkian 813; Jameson 1631; Pozzi 2899. Underlying luster, minor marks, small patch of die rust on obverse, minor flan flaw on reverse. Near EF. Very rare.

Pnytagoras came to power following the deposition of his half-uncle Evagoras II, who was expelled by his subjects after refusing to support a revolt against the Persians. Following the revolt, the Persians mounted an invasion to retake Cyprus and supported Evagoras in his bid to regain his throne in Salamis. Soon, however, unknown accusations were made against Evagoras, which prompted the Persians to change their support to Pnytagoras, who subsequently submitted to the Persian king. After the battle of Ipsos, Pnytagoras allied himself with the Macedonians, and his fleet participated in the important siege of Tyre in 332 BC. Following the siege, Alexander rewarded Pnytagoras with the city of Tamassos, which had been a possession of Kition. Pnytagoras died later that same year and was succeeded by his son, Nikokreon. Pnytagoras’ gold staters feature the bust of Cypriote Aphrodite, as celebrated by her numerous cult centers on the island. Her turreted crown on the obverse of this coin shows her assimilation to Tyche as the protecting civic goddess for the whole of Cyprus.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 130 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 23-24 September 2025. This lot is in Session One, which will begin 23 September at 9 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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