| Heritage World Coin Auctions > NYINC Signature Sale 3114 | Auction date: 16 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 33148 Price realized: 4,600 USD (Approx. 4,226 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Ancients LYCIAN DYNASTS. Mithrapata (ca. 390-360 BC). AR stater (29mm, 9.78 gm, 5h). NGC MS 4/5 - 4/5, overstruck. Lion scalp facing, seen from above; triskeles with voided annulet below/ MITHRAP-A-T-A (Lycian), bare head of Mithrapata left; triskeles with voided annulet to lower right, all within incuse square. SNG von Aulock 4238-4239. Incredibly bold overstrike leaving an imprint of the realistic bearded portrait. The whole coin is bathed in cabinet toning with fiery highlights. Although coin portraiture is commonly thought to be a Hellenistic invention, the first true portraits actually appeared in Lycia in the late Classical period, under the dynasts who ruled nominally as suzerains of the Persian Great King. Little is known about Mithrapata, who exercised control circa 390-370 BC, but his remarkable coin portraits, which show him on a human scale and with remarkable realism, offer a few intriguing hints. Unlike earlier Lycian dynasts, he does not wear the bashlyk, a Persian cap worn as a symbol of satrapal power, nor does he sport any godlike attributes. This could suggest Mithrapata had declared his independence of the Persian Empire, or that he favored Greek over Persian sensibilities. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-lycian-dynasts-mithrapata-ca-390-360-bc-ar-stater-29mm-978-gm-5h-ngc-ms-4-5-4-5-overstruck/a/3114-33148.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3114-01162024 HID02906262019 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved |  |
