Pegasos Stater from Leukas (BCD Akarnania 278.1) w/ unusual ethnic (A/A, not L)

[Curtis JJ]

We've been talking about Pegasos Stater Forgeries so much lately [LINK] -- how about a genuine one? (I hope!!!) (And/or share some others...)

It's from the Corinthian colony Akarnania, Leukas. What’s weird is the ethnic under Pegasos. It reads "A" not "Λ" (“L,” for Leukas). The coin was no. 278.1 in BCD Akarnania where, surprisingly, there was no mention of the unusual legend. Nor in other sales of this coin or anywhere else I’ve looked.

(I haven't checked Romolo Calciati's Pegasi yet; sadly, the local university library doesn't have it, despite good numismatic literature otherwise.)

I just posted an old CNG photo of it to my new BCD Collection-Collection Album: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=7851
Rather than attach it here too, I'm linking in some coin-in-hand "glamour shots" (I love the toning):
(Sorry I have obverse [Pegasos] / reverse [Athena] switched!)


This general type (grapes and amphora behind Athena’s head) has a legend or ethnic on both sides, and comes with at least four combinations of legends: A / A (such as mine); Λ (L) / A; ΛΕΥ (LEU) / A; ΛΕΥ / L. (They also appear to come in all four combinations of Athena & Pegasos facing left vs. right, contrary to the claim from Roma that on "genuine ancient coins of Leukas, the Pegasos and Athena face the same direction..." [LINK])

Does anyone have any idea what’s going on with the ethnic, "A" under Pegasos? (Should be "Λ" for Leukas, which is how it's always cataloged. Doesn’t look like a die-crack & I don’t see any earlier “die-states” without it.) Possibly just a die-engraver’s error? Possibly meant to have been paired with an Λ on the Athena side? Have you seen similar patterns with the ethnics on other Pegasi?

Comparanda (other ethnics on the same gen. type):
ΛΕΥ / Λ: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=4870605 ; https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=6387125 ;
Λ / A: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=7396360
ΛEY / A: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=5380753

Other Examples:
A / A (Obverse die matches):
Roma e-57, 183 (Athena w/ necklace) https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=5983563
The New York Sale 40, 1053 (Athena Left) https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=3595828
Gorny & Mosch 255, 3133 (faint, but A) https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=4790855
Stack's NYINC 2020, 22034 (faint, but A) https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=6680592

Also:
A "Paduan" with Ϙ (Koppa) / A: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=10437799

more of mine...

[Anaximander]

I can't claim any insights, but I'm leaning towards an engraver's error in placing a letter A on both the obverse and the reverse.
My version of this coin has, shall we say, the conventional Λ on the obverse, under Pegasos, and A behind the head of Athena.
For Λ/A with Pegasos & Head right, the Calciati Pegasi reference is vol. II, #128. 
Λ/A with Pegasos & Head left is Pegasi II, #129.
There aren't any other varieties, like A/A, that I have found, at least not among the Akarnanian types in this reference.

My example is Pegasi II #128, BCD Akarnania 275.

[Curtis JJ]

Beautiful example, Anaximander. Thanks much for the info from Pegasi, that's super helpful. It looks like the ΛEY types are usually considered "Pegasi 128-VAR's." Can't wait til I have a copy of my own (might not be anytime soon, but assembling a numismatic library is always a project in patience) -- or interlibrary loan one!! (Wouldn't mind having Calciati's Corpus of Sicilian coins either...some day!)