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IONIA, Ephesos. Phanes. Circa 625-600 BC. EL Stater (20.5mm, 14.08 g). Stag grazing right, its dappled coat indicated by indentations on the body; ΦANOS EMI SEMA (retrograde) above / Two incuse squares flanking central incuse rectangle, each with raised intersecting lines within. Weidauer 39 = Kastner, Phanes 1 = ACGC 1 = GPCG pl. 1, 9 = BMC 1 (same die and punches); Linzalone LN1074 = Gorny & Mosch 185, lot 146 (same die and punches); Zhuyuetang 7 = Tkalec (29 February 2000), lot 114. Toned. VF. Extremely rare and important.
From the Jonathan P. Rosen Collection. Ex Gemini XIII (6 April 2017), lot 64.
This extremely rare issue of Phanes staters is known from seven examples struck from three obverse dies, differentiated by the spelling of Phanes’ name (fåNnoß, fåneoß, or fånoß). Other than the present specimen and the three coins referenced above, the other four known examples are: Kastner, Phanes 2 = Kastner 4 (27 November 1974), lot 89 (now in the Bundesbank collection); Lanz 158 (5 June 2014), lot 252; Heritage 3075 (16 August 2019), lot 32023 = Heritage 3061 (8 January 2018), lot 32049; Berk BBS 209 (5 December 2019), lot 1 = Berk BBS 206 (15 November 2018), lot 1 = Berk BBS 203 (18 January 2018), lot 1.
The celebrated coins of Phanes are known to be among the earliest of Greek coins, for a hemihekte of the issue was found in the famous foundation deposit of the temple of Artemis at Ephesos. It is this find spot, along with the design of the grazing stag (an animal associated with Artemis), that has suggested Ephesos as the mint. As presently known, the Phanes coinage consists of seven denominations, from stater down to 1/96 stater, with some denominations having multiple varieties (the stag facing in different directions and sometimes associated with the symbol of a pentagram or a triad of pellets). Only the two largest denominations bear the name of Phanes. The five known staters carry the legend ΦAN(N)(E)OΣ EMI ΣHMA (“I am the badge of Phanes”), and the four known trites (third staters) simply bear the name ΦANEOΣ (“Of Phanes”). The use of a personal name at this early point in the development of coinage is instructive. We know from these coins that the responsibility for the issue was personal – whether the issuer was an official or a private individual – rather than collective (the citizenry as a whole). Despite the absence of a legend on the smaller denominations, the whole series is linked beyond doubt by the consistent type of the stag, by the common weight standard, and by the occasional use of the same reverse punch on different denominations within the series.
The final winners of all Triton XXIII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 14-15 January 2020. Triton XXIII – Session Two – Greek Coinage Part II through Roman Imperial Coinage Part I will be held Tuesday afternoon, 14 January 2020 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.
Winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and in person at the public auction, 22.50% for all others.
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