Sale: Triton VI, Lot: 391. Estimate $5000.  Closing Date: Monday, 13 January 2003.  Sold For $17000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ISLANDS off IONIA. Samos. Circa 600-570 BC. EL Stater (17.22 gm). Uncertain design against a background of heavy filling ornament / Two parallel oblong incuse punches with irregular markings. Barron pl. 30, 1; Weidauer 195; Robinson, Electrum pg. 590, 8. VF. (See color enlargement on plate 4.) ($5000) 

Ex Leu 77 (11 May 2000), lot 310. 

Trying to determine the types of the early electrum of Samos is akin to seeing shapes in clouds. The Samians had a unique style of coinage, with the central type placed against an amorphic patterned background. Various decriptions have been offered for the types-eagles, flowers, panthers, thunderbolts, etc. This cataloguer sees a flowering plant with two leaves, and a panther facing left below. The use of background ornament somewhat resembles the geometric patterns used as filling ornament on Corinthian pottery.