Evagoras II, 361 – 351. Stater circa 361-351, AV 8.32 g. EYA; Turreted head of Aphrodite l. Rev. BA Lion standing l., devouring prey; eagle on its back; above, star. BMC p. cv, 1 and pl. XXIV, 11. Tziambazis 123. Markou, L’or 368 (this coin). Kraay-Hirmer, pl. 195, 679 (this coin illustrated).
Of the highest rarity, only three specimens known of this variety and five of this type,
of which only two are in private hands. A magnificent portrait of fine Hellenistic
style and an interesting reverse composition. Perfectly struck in high relief,
reverse slightly off-centre, otherwise good extremely fine

Ex Hess-Leu 12-13 April 1962, 339 and Leu 30, 1998, 199 sales.

Evagoras II was probably the grandson of Evagoras I, the greatest Greek king of Salamis in the early fourth century BC. However, whereas Evagoras I had strongly pursued alliances with Athens, as a means of expanding the power of Salamis and maintaining its independence from the Persian Empire, Evagoras II was subservient to the Great King. His pro-Persian policies offended his people’s desire for autonomy like other Greek states and in 351 BC he was overthrown in a popular uprising led by his nephew, Pnytagoras. Evagoras II was forced to flee from Cyprus and escaped to the Persian court of Artaxerxes III. The Great King rewarded his former loyalty by making him governor of Sidon in the stead of its rebellious Phoenician governor. Unfortunately, Evagoras II proved to be as obnoxious to the Sidonians as he had been to the Salaminians and in 346 BC, after only three years in power, he was forced to flee from Phoenicia to Cyprus. There was a bitter homecoming awaiting him. Upon his arrival, Evagoras II was arrested and executed on the orders of Pnytagoras. This beautiful gold stater features the head of Aphrodite wearing the turreted crown of a city-goddess. Aphrodite, who was sometimes given the epithet Cypris (”Lady of Cyprus”), was widely worshipped on the island. This was attributed by the Greeks to the mythological tradition that she was born from the sea foam in the waters off its shores. In reality, she was the Greek equivalent to the Semitic goddess Astarte worshipped by the Phoenician population of Cyprus. Interestingly, despite the pro-Persian stance of Evagoras II, his coinage is probably the most Hellenic in style of all the kings of Salamis who preceded him. He was the first to abandon the old Cypriot syllabary in favour of the Greek alphabet for his coin inscriptions.