Caria, Iasos AE 17mm.

Uncertain mint. Head to right, wearing bashlyk / ΥΠΑΙoΡo[...], Nike standing facing, head to left, holding long palm in extended right hand. Unrecorded ruler but cf. Roma Numismatics, E-81, 607 ('ΥΠΑΙ' legend on coin of Ariarathes) and HGC 9, 493b (similar reverse of issue of Antiochos III). 5.00gr, 17mm, 11h.

Good Very Fine. Unpublished and unique; of great historical and numismatic importance.

Ex 'V' gentleman's collection, Switzerland. From the property of a North London, UK, gentleman.

It is not rare when a coin can be the only evidence about the existence of a person or city from the past. On this particular coin, it is the inscription of YΠΑΙΟΡΟ that makes it difficult to attribute. No city or ruler is recorded with this name and the only ancillary evidence we have is its similarity to some other types. First of all, the style of the leather helmet (called bashlyk, common for the Cappadocian bronzes) and the lack of the royal title, refer us to the king of Cappadocia, Ariaramnes. The Roma's example is the only other example who bears the abbreviated legend YΠΑΙ but on a coin of Ariarathes. On the other hand, the reverse type and style of legend resemble the bronze coins of Antiochos III struck in Southern Coele-Syria (SC 1100a; HGC 9, 493b). It is not certain whether the name refers to a city or to a ruler. Bronze coins of Ariaramnes can have the name of the mint abbreviated (cf. Simonetta 9a&b), but it is considered unusual in this period to have a bronze coin with a full ethnic and the portrait of the ruler. It is very likely that we are dealing with the name of a Cappadocian ruler who was active for a short period in the second half of the 3rd to the first part of the 2nd century and participated in the recovery of the outlying provinces of the Seleucid Empire from Antiochos III.

Dolphin / Dolphin. SNG Stancomb 334-337; SNG BM Black Sea 359-367. 2.44gr, 33mm x 11mm.

Good Very Fine.

From a private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. From Westminster collection, central London, UK.

The method of casting this unique type of coin was adopted by the Gallic Celts who originally came from this region. Dolphins were generally struck in the form of a "tree" attached to the tail, although some examples appear to have been cast individually.

Wreathed and veiled head of Demeter to right / ΒΥZΑNT ΚΑΛΧΑΔ, Poseidon seated to right, holding aphlaston with right hand and transverse trident with left. Schönert-Geiss 1276-82; HGC 3.2, 1428. 12.47gr, 25mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine.

Acquired on the UK art market before 2000. Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.