COMMAGENE. Uncertain. 1st century BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 12 mm, 2.14 g, 1 h). Lion (?) jumping right. Rev. Crab. Kovacs -. Apparently unpublished and unique. An enigmatic and highly interesting piece. Very fine.

This enigmatic dichalkon is clearly reminiscent of the issues tentatively attributed to Mithradates III of Commagene (see above, lot 1228). It is, however, anepigraphic, making it unlikely that it was issued by a king. Perhaps it was struck as a local emergency issue in a time of crisis, which in war-torn mid and late 1st century Asia Minor was certainly common