★ Unpublished and unique ★

ASIA MINOR. Uncertain. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Assarion (Bronze, 20 mm, 6.00 g, 6 h), late 1st century BC to 1st century AD. Draped bust of Apollo to right, wearing uncertain diademed or laureate headdress and bow and quiver over his left shoulder; before, olive branch. Rev. ETOYC TETA PTOY Bow and arrow. SNG Copenhagen -. RPC -. SNG von Aulock -. Unpublished and unique. A very interesting issue with a lovely near black patina. Light pitting, otherwise, good very fine.

This coin is a real enigma: it is dated to the 'year 4' of an uncertain era or reign, but it shows neither an ethnic nor any association with a king or emperor. Style and fabric place it in the late 1st century BC or the 1st century AD, but the types of Apollo on the obverse and a bow and arrow on the reverse are too unspecific to assign it to specific region with any certainty. The most likely origin of a coin like this, however, is probably southeastern Asia Minor or the Northwestern Levante.