KINGS of BOSPOROS. Asander. As archon, circa 47-43 BC. AV Stater (22mm, 8.14 g, 12h). Pantikapaion mint. Dated RY 4 (44/3 BC). Bare head right / APXONTOΣ AΣANΔPOY BOΣΠOPOY, Nike, holding wreath in extended right hand, cradling palm frond in left arm, standing left on prow left; ЄT Δ (date) across upper field, monogram to inner left. Frolova & Ireland § 6, 5 (O3/R4) = Natwoka 3; Anokhin 1312 corr. (date); MacDonald 189/2 corr. (date); RPC I 1842.1 corr. (date); HGC 7, 199 corr. (date); DCA 447; SNG BM Black Sea 961 = GPCG pl. 51, 1 (same dies); Adams III 2046 (same dies). Underlying luster, a few minor metal flaws on obverse. EF. Well centered. Extremely rare, one of only 6 examples published (the others: Adams III 2046; BM 961; CNG 72, lot 692; Morton & Eden 86, lot 14 = CNG 84, lot 575; and Frolova & Ireland pl. LXI, 3).
From the Jonathan P. Rosen Collection. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 23 (19 March 2002), lot 1230.
The date of this issue has long been debated, with some numismatists reading the delta as an alpha, but the die studies of Natwoka and Frolova & Ireland conclusively show that this issue must be dated year 4.
Price realized | 20'000 USD |
Starting price | 12'000 USD |
Estimate | 20'000 USD |