Sale: CNG 67, Lot: 673. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 22 September 2004.  Sold For $2350. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

IONIA, Ephesos. Before 600 BC. EL 1/48 Stater (0.29 gm). Head of stag right / Incuse punch with raised lines within. Cf. Weidauer 36 (hemihekte; stag forepart); cf. Traité pl. II, 20 (same); cf. Boston MFA 1816 (same); cf. SNG von Aulock 7773 (1/24th stater; stag forepart); Rosen -. VF. Extremely rare denomination, unpublished in the standard references. ($500)

These electrum coins mark the first appearance of the stag of Artemis as a civic badge of Ephesos, and are fromthe same issue as the famous "Phanes" stater and trite, the earliest named coinage. The tiny 1/48 staters are struck from the same dies as the hemihektes with forepart of stag.