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IONIA, Uncertain. 5th century BC. AR Twelfth Stater(?) (9mm, 0.99 g). Facing gorgoneion; [tiny bee above?] / Bisected rough incuse square. Hauck & Aufhäuser 14, lot 143 (Ephesos); CNG 58, lot 566 (Ephesos); Numismatik Naumann 91, lot 747 (Ephesos); otherwise, unpublished in the standard references. Attractively toned, slight porosity. Near EF. Very rare.
From the Tiny Art Collection.
The previous sales of this type attributed the issue to Ephesos, predicated upon the presence of the tiny bee, which is visible on certain coins of this type (cf. Hauck & Aufhäuser 14, lot 142, and Numismatik Naumann 91, lot 749). However, the presence of a bee is not necessarily a mint mark on such an early issue, nor is certain whether it is present on all coins of this issue. The gorgoneion type and a bifurcated incuse are also unknown at Ephesos, and no examples of this issue have been found in the excavations at Ephesos. In contrast, the gorgoneion and bee do appear as type and subsidiary symbol, respectively, on issues at other cities, such as Parion and Selge.
Closing Date and Time: 1 November 2023 at 10:48:00 ET.
All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.
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