Very Rare Skostokos Tetradrachm in the Name of Lysimachos
103. KINGS of THRACE, Local Dynasts. Skostokos. Circa 285/4-273/2 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 17.18 g, 8h). Ainos mint. Struck circa 280 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, transverse spear in background; to inner left, cult image set on throne. Fischer-Bossert, Lysimacheier C7 (V c6/R c7); Thompson 257 var. (extra control marks); Müller 114; HGC 3, 1750r; Weber 2727 (same dies). Lightly toned. EF. Well struck. Very rare, only six examples noted by Fischer-Bossert, six additionally in CoinArchives. ($2000) From the San Vicente Collection, purchased from Dr. Arnold Sasalow, June 1995. While previous scholars viewed Skostokos as a dynast who took control of parts of Thrace following Lysimachos’ death, Fischer-Bossert’s die study demonstrates that Skostokos was most likely a local dynast of the environs around Ainos, who ruled under Lysimachos, and was permitted to strike Lysimachi beginning late in the king’s reign. Current scholarship suggests he ruled from circa 285/4-273/2 BC (see, e.g., E. Paunov, “Introduction to the Numismatics of Thrace” in J. Valeva, et al., A Companion to Ancient Thrace, p. 280, fig. 18.4). Skostokos apparently continued to strike Lysimachi in the chaotic period following the latter’s death, before Seleukid authority could be established in Thrace.
Rare Kavaros Tetradrachm
104. KINGS of THRACE, Celtic. Kavaros. Circa 230/25-218 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26.5mm, 16.35 g, 12h). In the types of Alexander III of Macedon. Kabyle mint. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, Artemis Phosphoros standing facing. Draganov 867–73 (O5/R14); Peykov F2010; Mouchmov, Monnaies 145; HGC 3, 1356. Toned, struck from worn dies, as usual. VF. Rare. ($1500) The obverse die used for this issue was also used to strike tetradrachms in Alexander’s name (cf. CNG 98, lot 128, an example of Price 882).
105. THRACO-MACEDONIAN TRIBES, Mygdones or Krestones. Circa 485-470 BC. AR Diobol (12mm, 1.07 g). Goat kneeling right, head left; pellets around / Quadripartite incuse square. Lorber, Goats, Issue 15; HPM pl. III, 14; HGC 3, 368. Attractively toned, a hint of the typical granularity, light graze at edge on obverse. EF. Exceptional for issue. ($1000) From the B.G. Collection. Ex Tkalec (27 October 2011), lot 26.
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