LYDIA. Saitta. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Hemiassarion (?) (Bronze, 18 mm, 3.37 g, 6 h), circa 161-175. ΔHMOC Laureate head of Demos to right, with slight drapery on his left shoulder. Rev. СΑΙΤΤΗΝΩΝ Herakles standing front, head to left, leaning on club with his right hand and holding lion skin in his left. BMC 11-12. Martin, Saitta, 2. SNG Leypold 1148. Somewhat rough, otherwise, very fine.


This coin was struck from the same obverse die as lot 428 above, which dates it to the time of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina Junior. The fact that the present coin is only half the weight of lot 428, however. shows how difficult it can be to assign denominations to Provincial issues - was it intended as a half unit, or just struck on an undersized flan?