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Research Coins: Affiliated Auction

 
Sale: Nomos 8, Lot: 179. Estimate CHF1250. 
Closing Date: Monday, 21 October 2013. 
Sold For CHF1000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

IONIA, Uncertain mint. c. 440-400 BC. Hekte (Electrum, 10mm, 2.55 g). Head of Athena to left, wearing crested Attic helmet adorned with an olive branch. Rev. Quadripartite incuse sqaure. Apparently unpublished save for its previous auction appearance, and apparently unique. An attractive coin. Flan fault behind the ear, otherwise, good very fine.


From a northern European collection, ex Roma Numismatics 3, 31 March 2012, 213.

In its first appearance this coin was attributed to Phokaia, which was a reasonable suggestion but its apparent lack of the usual seal makes this somewhat unlikely. In fact, this coin probably should remain among the uncertain issues of Ionia - there are other one-sided hektai that are surely not Phokaian since they, also, lack that city’s canting badge. In any case the head of Athena can best be compared to contemporary issues from western cities like Thurium and Velia.