|
IONIA, Uncertain. 5th century BC. AR Twenty-fourth Stater(?) (6.5mm, 0.32 g). Facing gorgoneion; [tiny bee above?] / Rough incuse square. Hauck & Aufhäuser 14, lot 144 (Ephesos); M&M GmbH, lot 398 (Ephesos); Numismatik Naumann 91, lot 752–3 (Ephesos); otherwise, unpublished in the standard references. Attractively toned, some granularity. Good VF. 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 10:48:20 ET.
All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.
|
