Sale: CNG 72, Lot: 770. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 14 June 2006.  Sold For $7500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

IONIA, Uncertain. Circa 600-550 BC. EL 1/6 Stater – Hekte (2.39 g). Milesian standard. Figural type. Forepart of roaring lion on left and male bust on right vis-à-vis, on a striated field / Two rough incuse square punches. Triton VIII, 446 (same die and punches); CNG 69, 430 (same die and punches); Rosen Collection (MuM 72), 28 (same die and punches). VF. Extremely rare, the fourth known.

All four of the hektes of this series were struck with the same obverse die that was used on the hemistaters and the only known twelfth (see next lot). This is the only one of the hektes, though, that displays more of the lion than just the tip of its nose.