Kings of Cappadocia, Ariobarzanes II Philopator AR Drachm.

In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. ΑΝΤΙΦΩΝ (Antiphon), magistrate. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress, paws tied beneath chin / ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ, Zeus seated to left on high-backed throne, right leg drawn back, his feet resting on a low foot rest, holding long sceptre in his left hand and, in his right, eagle standing to right with closed wings; in left field, sphinx seated to left on amphora, raising forepaw; ΑΝΤΙΦΩΝ below. Price 2415; HGC 6, 1139. 16.13gr, 31mm, 12h.

Very Fine. Toned.

Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s.

Thessalos, petasus and cloak tied at neck, holding band across horns of bull to right / ΛΑ-ΡIΣ (ΡΙΣ retrograde), bridled horse galloping to right. BCD Thessaly I 1122; BCD Thessaly II 170; SNG Copenhagen 99; HGC 4, 414. 5.96gr, 20mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine. Toned with blue iridescence around the devices on obverse.

Acquired from Kevin Cheek (Elizabeth A. Cheek Trust Collection) in May 2011. Published in 'The Celator' December 1988.

From the article 'Artistic choice. Archaic style lived on Larissa' of Kevin R. Cheek about this coin in The Celator, December 1988, p. XXIIII: This remarkable issue is a combination of ''Archaic Period'' art and composition blended with ''Classical Period'' detail and design. The ''Archaic Period'' artistic style, readily seen on the obverse, is highlighted by the heavy body muscles of the bull wrestler seemingly flexing towards the viewer of the piece. The ''Archaic Period'' composition is noted with the heavy dot border, thick chunky flan, and deep reverse incuse. ''Classical Period'' detail and design is apparent relative to the delicate designed sandals, detailed neck-ribbing of the robust bull, and long-necked body of the horse. The artist has thus created a piece in which the bull wrestler commands sheer power over a stout adversary as the movement of the encounter gently displaces the petasus from the wrestler. The petasus may be significant in that there are many examples of as petasus being associated with the regal coinage of Macedonia.

Tyre mint. Diademed head of Zeus-Ammon to right / ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ, eagle with closed wings standing to left on thunderbolt; club to left, ΛΙ(?) between legs. Svoronos 1130; Weiser -; SNG Copenhagen -; cf. Noeske 95 var. (ΔΙ) 30.14gr, 34mm, 12h.

Near Very Fine.

Private collection, acquired 1980–1985.