Dea Moneta
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Banner Astarte XXIII
Lot # 148
Kings of Macedon. Eastern Arabia, Gulf Area, imitating Alexander III the Great or Philip III Arrhidaios. Uncertain mint, late 3rd - 2nd century BC. Drachm (Silver, 15.95 mm, 3.68 g). Head of Herakles left, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev. [illegible pseudo Aramaic or Greek (?) legend], Zeus/Shams enthroned right, holding sceptre and eagle; serpent or ‘buckle’ in right field. Van Alfen, Die, NS -. Unpublished in the standard references, for similar issues with head to left and Shams enthroned to right cf. M. Huth, Coinage of the Caravan Kingdoms: Ancient Arabian Coins from the Collection of Martin Huth, ANS New York 20210, p. 64, 138-141; for prototype cf. Price 1374-1380 (Lampsakos ca. 328-323 BC). An interesting new variant of a little understood coinage. Dark tone. Good Very Fine.