Description: Lydia, Sardes, ca. 200 - 133 BC. Dimophon, Zinados, magistrates. Laureate bust of a Herakles right, with lion's skin tied around neck / ΣAPΔIANΩN; Apollo standing left, holding crow an laurel branch, ΔHMOΦΩN ΘHNAΔOY in left field.

Diameter: AE17 mm

Weight: 5,5 g

Grade: VF/VF

Attribution: unpublished magistrates; cf. SNG Cop. 492-9 (magistrate); cf. BMC 32-6 var. (magistrate)

Commentary: rare with two magistrates; olive-grey patina, contrasting deposits

History: Four miles north of ancient Sardes the large mound of earth reaches over 60 meters in the sky - the tomb of Alyattes (618–561 BC), the king of Lydia and the first monarch to mint coins.

Article Number: 053-04-05-44408