Portrait of King Midas

384, Lot: 244. Estimate $300. Sold for $4500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

IONIA, Phokaia. Circa 478-387 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.50 g). Head of King Midas left; to right, [seal downward] / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 66. VF. Extremely rare, only five examples cited by Bodenstedt, three of which are in museums.

This issue of Phokaia is the only Greek (non-Imperial) coin to bear the portrait of the famous King Midas of Phrygia.