★ Unknown Kourion King? ★

CYPRUS. Uncertain mint. Circa 525-500. Double Siglos (Silver, 22.5 mm, 10.20 g), uncertain King A.... possibly of Kourion. Head of a lion with open jaws to right; on the neck, Pa-A ( in Cypriot Syllabic script ); above head, A ( in Cypriot Syllabic script ). Rev. Rough incuse square. Apparently unpublished. Cf. Asyut 810 var. ( with the forepart of a lion but a different legend ). For later issues, probably from the same mint, see: A. Destrooper-Georgiades, Note sur les monnaies trouvées en 1991 près d'Alyki à Larnaca, BCH 119, 2, 1995, p. 632, 2-11 var, and P. Dikaios, Silver Cypriot Staters from Larnaca, NC 1935, pl. XVI 1-7 var. Of great rarity. With a remarkably powerful, large lion's head struck on a broad flan. Lightly toned. Minor marks, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

From a Swiss private collection, acquired privately in New York City in 1978.