Cypriot Lapethos silver Siglos coin: Cypro-Archaic II, (500-480 BC) or 480-460

Rare un-inscribed coin with Head of female facing right with earring and diadem and hair falling in coils down her neck (possibly Aphrodite), and on the reverse a small head of Athene wearing a Corinthian helmet, facing right in an incuse square. Uncertain King.

Lapithos was an important settlement near the North coast in the Early and Middle Bronze Age. The later town close by, was the focus of one of the (about 12) Cypriot City Kingdoms in the Early Iron Age. It is one of 8 who minted identifiable coins (Amathous, Idalion, Kition, Lapetos, Marion, Paphos, Salamis, and a few from Soloi. Some others with no clear attribution may come from other kingdoms such as Kourion and possibly even Golgoi (which is known as a walled city with important shrine, rather than an independent kingdom). The earliest coins of the king of Lapithos are uninscribed, like this one and are dated to the beginning of the 5^th Century BC. The first known king, Demonikos (or Demona)s, named in Phoenician on the reverse of coins, ruled around 500BC. Another was Ba’alzakor. Rare un-inscribed coin with Head of female facing right with earring and diadem and hair falling in coils down her neck (possibly Aphrodite), and on the reverse a small head of Athene wearing a Corinthian helmet, facing right in an incuse square. Uncertain King.

Lapithos was an important settlement near the North coast in the Early and Middle Bronze Age. The later town close by, was the focus of one of the (about 12) Cypriot City Kingdoms in the Early Iron Age. Starting at the beginning of the 5th century BC, it was one of 8 who minted identifiable coins (Amathous, Idalion, Kition, Lapetos, Marion, Paphos, Salamis, and a few from Soloi, all following the Cypriot weight standard of just over 11gm. Some others with no clear attribution may come from other kingdoms such as Kourion and possibly even Golgoi (which is known as a walled city with important shrine, rather than an independent kingdom). The earliest coins of the king of Lapithos are uninscribed, like this one and are dated to the beginning of the 5th Century BC. The first known king, Demonikos (or Demona)s, named in Phoenician on the reverse of coins, ruled around 500BC. Another was Ba’alzakor.

11.21g, irregularly shaped. Ascribed to the city kingdom of Lapethos through similarities with inscribed coins. Dated by The Ashmolian Museum, Oxford and the New York American Numismatic Society as 500-470 BC. Other numismatic publications (and Hess-Devo auctions) date it as 480-460BC.

BMC 29, 3 (same dies) = Traité pl. CXXXVI, 10; Tziambazis (2002), 47. Evangeline Markou: The coinages of the kings of Cyprus from the Archaic to the Early Hellenistic period.(Kyprios Character. History, Archaeology & Numismatics of Ancient Cyprus). BMC 29, 3 (same dies) = Traité pl. CXXXVI, 10; Tziambazis (2002), 47.