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Unknown Mint, Lycia (Unknown Lycian Dynast)

cogito

By cogito

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[b]Unknown Mint, Lycia (Unknown Lycian Dynast; 520-480 BC.) AR Stater[/b] [u]Obv[/u]: Protome of a wild boar, facing left. [u]Rev[/u]: Incuse square divided by an inverted triangle and large globule above; irregular lines (Lycian script?) on either side of the inverted triangle. [u]Attribution[/u]: SNG Cop -; SNG Aul -; var. Traite pl.21, 11. [u]Provenance[/u]: ex. Vauctions Sale 222 (lot#46), 2.19.09 [u]Weight[/u]: 9.10 gm. [u]Maximal Diameter[/u]: 22 mm. [u]Axis[/u]: 12 [u]Notes[/u]: These very rare boar protome / (possible) roughly scripted incuse issues (~ 8-9 known) have not been associated through hoard or archeological discovery to a particular Lycian Dynast, but their heavier weight standard; higher content silver; and use of possible Lycian script within the incuse suggest that they were produced in the transition between the proto-Dynastic and Dynastic periods. JB308

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cogito
I'm glad you're the one that consigned it! I've been looking for one of these types for a while. Did you purchase it as part of a group? If so, what were those types? Any associated info like coincident coins would be very helpful in nailing down a suspected dynast. I'm fairly convinced that the incuse lines are actually Lycian script...maybe Zagaba, Teththiveibi or one of the lesser known early dynasts.
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dlyumkis
No, I did not purchase it as any part of a group. It was an individual piece that I liked, but I myself am not familiar with the Lycian dynast coins. The only information I was able to find on it (and I probably didn't look nearly as hard as you) is what's available on coinarchives. The type is apparently quite rare.
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cogito
After some introspection (and a double-shot latte), I wonder if the inverted "V" with globule is actually a betyl. Kaunos is not too far from some of the coastal Lycian dynast mints and the betyl that appears on Kaunos coinage starts to make an appearance around the same time as this coin was supposedly minted. The story associated with the Kaunos betyl supposedly has some astronomical significance and was reported to either be a conical meteroite or house one. So, maybe the globule above is a comet or meteorite and should actually be viewed 90 degrees to how I have it above. Just speculation, but I do find the inverted "V" to be tantilizingly similar to the Kaunos betyl.
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dlyumkis
interesting speculation. The Kaunos pieces have grapes on either side, this one does not. Also the Kaunos baetyl is solid throughout, while this one is incuse in the center.
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cogito
There are a few reverse dies for the Kaunos baetyl that do not have grapes or "dotted birds." Interestingly, often you will find a Kaunos baetyl reverse that has "handles" on either side near the apex of the baetyl...in the same location as the globule above. My theory would be hard to prove, but I've inquired about the possibility with an archeologist who specializes in historical accounts of ancient comets/meteors. Hopefully there are materials noting a significant astronomical event around the 520-480 BC time period.
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