Kebren Electrum Hekte

Triton XXI, Lot: 461. Estimate $1000. Sold for $1800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

TROAS, Kebren. Late 6th-early 5th centuries BC. EL Hekte (10mm, 2.72 g). Phokaic standard. Head of ram right / Incuse square. SNG Ashmolean –; SNG von Aulock 7775 var. (head left); SNG München –; CNG 102, lot 400 (same die and punch). Near EF. Extremely rare, the second known.

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 92, Part II (24 May 2016), lot 1486 (attributed to Phokaia).

Although there are a few electrum Phokaic standard hektai known with a ram’s head (particularly from Mytilene and Phokaia, as well as an uncertain mint in Ionia [see Weidauer 50 and Lot 484, below]), all are distinctly different in style from this coin. At the same time, the style of the ram’s head here is a perfect match to the type found on the early silver issues at Kebren (cf. SNG Ashmolean 1076–7). See SNG Kayhan 1565 and CNG 90, lot 577 for myshemihektes of the same style and standard, but with head left.