The Ephesian philosopher Heraclitus said that, "we dig much earth to find little gold." As far as pet theories go, I am just asking if you have any insights to share, I don't presuppose what those might be. Whatever gems you are willing to share (both coins and theories). Of course, if you are waiting to develop them to maybe share them at some future date, that is
good too.
Looking at your
collection again, you have some real
rarities, I notice you don't have the Lydian issues so much? I usually avoid
Cyzicus (I am not big on tunnies), but you have a nice early one.
For the Lydian "wart-nosed"
lion, the wart-nose of course is the sun. If you show the coin against a modern map, the map (and the coin will be oriented with the top being
North. This is incorrect for the coin, if you think of the coin as a statue, then one must be looking South, with the sun behind the statue. The statue, of the
lion roaring, therefore must be facing
West, and not East like it would if we oriented the image to the
North.
That at least is a pet theory of mine.