DYNASTS OF LYCIA. Perikles, circa 380-360 BC. Stater (Silver, 26 mm, 9.71 g, 4 h), Phellos. Laureate and bearded head of Perikles facing three-quarters to left, with his hair in dramatic disarray; traces of a cloak around his neckline; to right, dolphin swimming downward. Rev. 𐊓𐊁𐊕𐊆𐊋𐊍𐊁 - 𐊇𐊁𐊛𐊑𐊗𐊁𐊈𐊚 ('Perikle - Wehñtezẽ' in Lycian) Perikles, nude but for Corinhtian helmet, advancing to right, wielding sword in his right hand and holding shield in his left; in field to right, triskeles; all within incuse square. Mildenberg, Mithrapata, 21 and pl. 4, 20 and 22 (this coin). Müseler VIII, 35 var. (same obverse die, but differing reverse symbol). N. Olçay & O. Mørkholm: The Coin Hoard from Podalia, in: NC 1971, 407 (this coin). SNG von Aulock 4249 (same dies). Beautifuly toned and with a spectacular and dramatic portrait. Light die wear and the reverse somewhat double struck, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.


Perikles was a Lycian dynast of Limyra of whom little is known other than that he defeated Artumpara, a dynast from the Xanthos valley, and fought against the Carian satrap Maussolos. It has been suggested that Perikles, who called himself 'xñtawata' ('King' in Lycian), played a leading role in the Great Satraps' Revolt in the late 360s BC, but his name is not explicitly mentioned in the few surviving historiographical accounts and his further fate is unknown. What makes Perikles' coinage particularly interesting is the fact that it shows the dynast twice in the guise of a demigod: first on the obverse, where he wears a laurel wreath, and once again on the reverse, where he is shown as a nude hero. It is worth noting that the small dolphin on the right-hand side of Perikles' portrait is clearly a reminiscence of Eukleidas' facing Athena from Syracuse, from whom all facing heads on Lycian coins originally derive (see below, lot 234).