Caria, Kaunos. Silver Stater (11.82 g), ca. 410-390 BC. Winged female figure in kneeling-running stance left, head turned to look back, holding kerykeion and wreath. Reverse: Baetyl(?); across field, inverted Δ and Γ above pellet; all within incuse square. Cf. Konuk 106-7 (dies not recorded); SNG Keckman 826; Karl 200. Boldly struck on a full flan and with original find patina intact. Virtually as struck. Superb Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $2,500 - UP
Kaunos, a coastal city in southwestern Asia Minor, was at various times its own kingdom, part of Caria, or part of Lycia. The Kaunians themselves believe they were descended from Cretan settlers, but Herodotus disputed this based on the similarity of the Kaunian to his own language (Herodotus was himself a Carian), and claimed they were an indigenous Carian people. They attributed their settlement to their eponymous founder, King Kaunos, who it was said was the grandson of the god Apollo. During the time this coin was struck, Kaunos had grown very wealthy due to its exports of salt, salted fish, slaves, and the raw materials for making tar, which was used in shipbuilding and for ship repairs. Kaunos fought on the side of the Greeks against the Persians during the Ionian Revolt, and was subsequently a member of the Delian League, but shortly after this coin was issued it came under Persian dominion as part of the Peace of Antialkidas.