DYNASTS OF LYCIA. Uncertain dynast, circa 470-440 BC. Stater (Silver, 22 mm, 9.06 g, 4 h). Boar standing right. Rev. Tortoise within dotted square within incuse square. Müseler II, 30-31. SNG von Aulock 4072. A highly interesting early overstrike. Heavy traces of overstriking, otherwise, very fine.


This highly intriguing coin was probably overstruck twice. On the obverse, a triskeles running clockwise within a round incuse is clearly visible; this belongs to an earlier Lycian stater. Since hardly anything of that coin’s obverse can be made out, the exact type cannot be determined. The piece was probably overstruck relatively soon after it was first struck, however, since the round incuse only gradually came into use in Lycia from around 470 BC onward (cf. Müseler IV, 9, 13, 17–18, 22, 26–28, 56 ff.), more or less contemporaneously with our Boar and Tortoise stater.

Interestingly, certain features suggest that beneath the triskeles stater there lies an even earlier, third coin. To the upper right of the boar, curved lines are visible that do not belong to the triskeles, while below the boar and behind its hindquarters there are incuse lines that likewise point to displaced metal. Moreover, on the reverse, from 6 to 10 o’clock, a faint dotted line can be seen, undoubtedly representing the edge of another round reverse incuse.

Our piece was therefore overstruck on not one but two earlier Lycian staters with round incuses, making it a fascinating early Numismatica Technica.