LYCIA. Phoinike. Circa 500-480 BC. Stater (Silver, 22 mm, 9.65 g). Forepart of a winged boar to left; below, ΦOI; on the upper wing, horseshoe-shaped symbol. Rev. Incuse square with Maltese cross pattern. Müseler II, 9 var. (same obverse die, but without the symbol). SNG Keckman II, 425 var. and corr. (same obverse die, but without the symbol and as 'uncertain dynast'). SNG von Aulock 4048 corr. (this coin, but legend omitted and as 'uncertain dynast'). Extremely rare, one of a very few known coins from Phoinike, and perhaps unique with the Lycian obverse symbol. Beautifully toned and well struck on a full flan. Slightly rough, otherwise, good very fine.


The Greek settlement of Phoinike on the Lycian coast may have been a foundation of Ialysos on Rhodos, from where it borrowed the winged boar as a coin type. The small horseshoe-shaped symbol on the obverse of this coin is not present on other examples: it was added later to the die, perhaps after Phoinike had been subjected by the nearby Lycian dynasts of Limyra.