414, Lot: 217. Estimate $1000. Sold for $1400. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

IONIA, Uncertain. Circa 600-550 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.77 g). Phokaic standard. Fibula on convex circle (shield?) / Incuse square. Weidauer –; Elektron –; Traité I –; Boston MFA 1791; cf. Rosen 338–9 (myshemihektai); cf. SNG Kayhan 1556 (myshemihekte); SNG von Aulock –. Good VF, lustrous. Rare as a hekte.

This coin, and lots 485–7 in Triton XXI, lot 223 in E-412, and lot 98 in E-413, all struck on the Phokaic standard, feature designs placed on raised roundels or shields. These coins may be part of a single series, perhaps all from the same mint, unified by the shield theme and the common weight standard. Two other coins in the same apparent series appeared in NAC Auction 92: lot 203 (ram on shield) and lot 209 (stag forepart on shield). Further research is called for to identify other types in this series and to search for any links in the reverse punches.