Pre-Long Beach Auction #85

Seleukid Kingdom. Seleukos I Nikator. Silver Tetradrachm (17 g), 312-281 BC. Aradus, struck in the name of Alexander III "the Great". Head of Herakles right, wearing lion's skin headdress. Reverse: , Zeus seated left, holding eagle and scepter; in left field, anchor with monogram; below throne, . Price 3353; SNG Copenhagen 791; Mller 1506. Very Fine. Estimated Value $400 - 500

Phoenicia, Tyre. Silver Shekel (14.2g), ca. 126-65 BC. Local date 30, ca. 97 BC. Laureate head of Melqart right. Reverse: , eagle standing left; left field L (date) above club; right field, palm above, HPA monogram; between legs, Phoenician letter. BMC 117. Popular "30 Pieces of Silver" of biblical fame. Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $600 - 700

Zeugitania, Carthage. Electrum 1/5 Stater (1.4 g), ca. 350-270 BC. Cornear wreathed head of Tanit left, wearing pendant earing and necklace. Reverse: Horse standing right, head turned back. SNG Copenhagen 135. A well-centered delightful little Carthaginian coin. Traces of luster. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500

Achaemenid Empire. Mazios, Satrap of Cilicia. Silver Obol (0.8 g), ca. 361-334 BC. Myriandros mint. Crowned and bearded Baalatar enthroned right, holding lotus tipped scepter. Reverse: Lion walking left; above, 2. Sunrise 61; Casabonne 913; SNG France 425; SNG Levante 184. Medium-gray toning with lighter highlights. Well-centered on both sides. Very rare coin and denomination. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $700 - 800

Parthian Kingdom. Orodes II. Silver Tetradrachm (15.2 g), ca. 57-38 BC. Seleukeia on the Tigris. Diademed and draped bust of Orodes II left, wearing torque ending in sea-horse or griffin. Reverse: [] [ ]V , Orodes enthroned right, lifting kneeling Tyche, who raises right hand while cradling scepter in left arm; monogram above; [ in exergue]. Callatas -; Sellwood 45.3; Shore 209 (same obv. die); PDC 39633 (same obv. die); Ars Classica XII (...

Persis Kingdom. Darev (Darios) I. Silver Drachm (4.3 g), 2nd Century BC. Diademed head of Darios right, with short beard, wearing kyrbasia surrmounted by crescent. Reverse: Fire temple; above, Ahura-Mazda; left, Darev standing; right, column surmounted by eagle. Sunrise 582; Alram 557. Nicely toned. Superb Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $300 - 400

Baktrian Kingdom. Eukratides I. Silver Tetradrachm (16.9 g), ca. 171-145 BC. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Eukratides I right, wearing crested helmet adorned with bull's horn and ear. Reverse: above, the Dioskouroi, each holding palm branch and couched lance, on horses rearing right; in exergue, ; in lower right field, monogram. Bopearachchi 6E; Hoover 131; SNG ANS 465. Struck on a huge flan in high relief. "The Pick of the Hoard...

Indo-Sythian. Maues. Silver Tetradrachm (9.8 g), 90-57 BC. , Zeus standing facing, head left, holding scepter. Reverse: Winged Nike standing right, holding wreath and palm; right, monogram; Kharoshthi legend around, Rajatirajasa mahatasa Moasa. MIG 699a; Senior 1.2T; Mitchiner 2178. Said to be the first Indo-Sythian coin type. Superb Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $400 - 500

Sasanian Kingdom. Shapur I, Gold Dinar (7.4 g), AD 240-272. Mint I ("Ctesiphon"), ca. AD 260-272. Diademed bust of Shapur I right, wearing mural crown with korymbos. Reverse: Fire altar flanked by two attendants standing looking away from the fire, each wearing mural crown; above left attendant, mintmark. SNS type Iic/1b, style P, group d/1 (pl. 31, 143); Gbl type I/1; Saeedi AV5; Sunrise 740. Lustrous and lightly toned. Well-centered with...

Sasanian Kingdom. Varhan II. Silver Drachm (3.9 g), AD 276-293. Draped bust of Varhan II right, wearing winged crown with korymbos; behind korymbos, three pellets; around, inscription. Reverse: Fire altar flanked by two attendents, facing with heads looking away from altar; the left, wearing winged crown with korymbos; the right, wearing mural crown. Sellwood 21(Type I); Gbl-50; Sunrise 768. Toned. Very Fine. Estimated Value $350 - 400 Ex...

Kushan Empire. Huvishka. Gold Dinar (7.9 g), ca. AD 102-142 or 147-191. Mint A. Nimbate, crowned, and diademed bust left on mountains, holding mace scepter and filleted spear; legend around. Reverse: Ardoxsho, radiate and nimbate standing facing with head right; holding cornucopia; left field, legend; right field monogram. Sunrise 539; MK 286; Donum Burns 263. Fully struck up. Perfectly centered. Virtually Mint State. Estimated Value $3,000...

Kushan Empire, Vasideva II. Gold Dinar (7.8 g), AD 290-320. Mint III (C), 8th emission. Vasudeva, nimbate, standing facing, head left, sacrificing over altar and holding trident; left inner field, trident; right inner field, Buddhist triratana ("Three Jewels") above five pellets, four around a center pellet. Reverse: Siva standing facing; behind, the bull Nandi standing left; tamgha to left. MK 651 (O31/R2); Donum Burns -. Unusually well-...