370.  Lysimachos. 323-281 BC. AV Stater  (8.45 gm). Kalchedon mint. 205-195
BC. Head of the  deified Alexander right / Athena seated left, holding Nike
in extended right hand,  left arm resting on shield, spear behind; monogram
above  knee,  bull  butting  left in  exergue,   QRA  behind bull.  Seyrig,
"Monnaies  Hellénistiques  de  Byzance  et de  Calcédoine,"  in  Essays  to
Robinson, pl. 25, 26 var. (different monogram and lacking QRA, same obverse
die); Müller 358 var. (same). Good VF. An unrecorded variety. ($1500)

This issue in the name of Lysimachos is characterized by the symbol of a
bull kneeling left, rather than butting. It has been attributed by Seyrig
to the mint of Kalchedon on the grounds that one variety of the issue has
the letter K on the throne.

Our specimen uniquely has a monogram in the left field similar to that of a
tetradrachm of Alexander III from Lampsakos (Price 1456, and in the exergue
next to the bull the legend QRA where usually the mint abbreviation K,
KALor KALCA is found. This may be the abbreviation of an official or even
Qrakh (Thrace), of which Byzantion is the principal city. If this
interpretation is correct, the coin may be attributable to Byzantion and
could then be part of a mutual issue with its twin city Kalchedon on the
Asiatic side of the Bosporus. The date of issue assigned by Seyrig is about
210-195 BC at a time when the twin cities had chosen the winning side in
Rome’s Macedonian Wars and enjoyed a degree of independence. The occasion
for the issue was probably some special event of Bouphonia, such as those
celebrated at Athens, Magnesia and Kos, when the sacrificial bull of Zeus
Polieus was encouraged to freely bend down and ‘offer’ itself for
sacrifice.


CNG Mail bid sale #58, 18 Sept 2001, lot 370.
 
 Lot sold for $1800.


Used by permission of CNG, www.historicalcoins.com