CNG 112, Lot: 273. Estimate $300. Sold for $4000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LYDIA, Uncertain. 6th century BC. EL Hemihekte – Twelfth Stater (7.5mm, 1.18 g). Forepart of lion left / Bird (eagle or owl?) standing left within incuse square. Spier p. 332, 11 (A7/P4) = Traité I 53 = J.P. Six, “Monnaies grecques, inédites et incertaines” in NC 1890, p. 247, 1 (same dies); Triton XVII, lot 324 (same dies); cf. Konuk & Lorber Fig. 20 (hekte, same obv. die and one rev. punch); cf. Triton XIV, lot 318 (same). Near VF. Extremely rare.

From the Matthew Curtis Collection.

The reverse die links this coin to a series of inscribed Lydian tritai and hektai with the partial legend (in Lydian), ... late ... (see Spier p. 332). Accordingly, the entire series, including this uninscribed coin, can be confidently assigned to Lydia.