Obolos 13

PAMPHYLIA. Side. Circa 460-430 BC. Stater (Silver, 20.5 mm, 10.90 g, 7 h), overstruck on an uncertain stater of Aspendos, c. 440-430. Pomegranate surrounded by dotted guilloche border. Rev. Helmeted head of Athena to right in incuse square; to right, traces of the undertype's obverse. Atlan 16 (O15/A14). SNG von Aulock 4762. Weber 7353 (same dies). For undertype see: CNG eauction 438 (2019), 159. A clear, well struck example. Usual die break on the reverse, otherwise, good very fine.

This coin is overstruck on a stater of Aspendos, roughly dated between 465 to 430. It depicts a helmeted warrior walking to left holding spear and shield on the obverse, and a triskeles on the reverse. We are fortunate enough to have enough of the details of the undertype's obverse to locate the exact die, which is the same as CNG eAuction 438 (2019), 159. Although this Aspendos series is dated from 465 to 430, the anatomic details and the style of the male warrior in the host coin are such, that, in my opinion (DG), it cannot be dated before 440. This means that the present coin should be dated between 440 and 430 BC. This is a key coin which will help significantly towards a more accurate dating of the coins of both Aspendos and Side.