ANCIENT COINS, GREEK COINS, P hoenicia, Sidon, ‘Abd’Astart I (?) (c.365-352 BC), Silver Attic Tetradrachm, 16.97g, 12h. Regnal year 8 = 358/357 BC. Phoenician letters (‘bh), bearded bust of Satrap facing right, draped, wearing a diademed crown and an earring. Rev. War galley left, with oars and row of shields, date above (Betlyon, p.13, 32, Figure 1 Meshorer, Coins of the Ancient World, 1975, pp. 49, 68-9 = Elayi & Elayi, Sidon, 1465 (D1/R1), pl.XLIII (this coin); BMC -; SNG ANS -; Jameson -; McClean -; Weber -; Hunterian -; Pozzi -; Traite -; SNG Copenhagen -; DCA -). Dark brown patination and some light erosion towards periphery, very fine. An extremely intriguing issue, and of the highest rarity, apparently the only recorded example and worthy of further rese arch. This fascinating issue appears to have been struck in the year that Sidon revolted against Persian control. Betlyon attributes the portrait on the obverse to ‘Abd’Astart I. From the Prospero Collection $ 5,000
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