CYPRUS. Kition (?). Circa mid to late 5th century BC. Stater (Silver, 22 mm, 10.32 g, 12 h). Male figure seated to left on throne, holding scepter surmounted by a bird in his right hand and placing his left on seat; behind, female figure standing left. Rev. Herakles advancing to right, wearing lion's skin on his head, its back blowing behind him in the wind, wielding club with his right hand above his head to strike a lion seated to left before him, which he grabs by the mane with his left hand; in field to right, uncertain Cypriot letter (?). Baldwin's 34 (2003), 488 corr. (same dies, but female figure on the obverse not noted due to poor condition). Leu Web Auction 28 (2023), 1607 (same dies). Traité II, 1, 1021 and pl. CXXIII, 4 corr. (same dies, but female figure on the obverse not noted due to poor condition). Zapiti & Michaelidou -. Of the highest rarity, the fourth known example. A beautiful coin with highly interesting iconography. Struck from somewhat worn dies, otherwise, very fine.



Unfortunately, this highly interesting coin does not carry any legible legend, but there are stylistic links to Kition, where Herakles was prominently featured on the early coinage. The obverse, on the other hand, is likely derived from renderings of Baaltars from nearby Cilicia, an observation that is further confirmed by Traité pl. CXXIII, 3, a closely related Cypriote stater showing Herakles also wielding a club above his head on the reverse but shooting a bow. The obverse of this piece copies the well-known youthful horse-rider from Kelenderis, emphasizing the influence of Cilician coinage on the early output from Cyprus.

Babelon did not notice the female figure standing to left behind the seated figure on the obverse on our type due to the poor condition of his example. Unfortunately, the details are not clear enough to identify her. However, it is worth noting that similar figures (Nike and cupids) appear in the same position on 4th century Cilician staters, particularly in Nagidos, once again underlining the close connection between the island and the nearby mainland.