CYPRUS. Marion. Sasmas, circa 470-450 BC. Stater (Silver, 21 mm, 11.22 g, 7 h). [𐠨𐠨𐠔𐠃 𐠰𐠊𐠦𐠰𐠨] ('sa–sa–ma–o to-ka-ro-to-sa' = Sasmas, son of Doxandros, in Cypriot syllabic script) Lion standing right, licking its right foreleg; above, Boiotian shield; in exergue, floral pattern. Rev. [𐠔𐠥𐠁𐠄𐠩] ('ma–ri–eu–se' in Cypriot syllabic script) Phrixos standing left, clinging to the back of a ram standing left. BMC pl. XIII, 11 (as 'uncertain'). SNG Copenhagen 24. Tziambazis 50. Very rare. Struck from the usual worn dies and with two test cuts on the reverse, otherwise, very fine.


Marion was one of the smaller Cypriot Kingdoms and situated on a rather isolated plain in the Northwest of the island.