Lot 2834

Description

Ionia, Miletus, (c600-550 B.C.), electrum twelfth stater or hemi hekte, (1.15 g), obv. forepart of lion to right with star ornament on nose as a Lydian trite, rev. star ornament or stellate pattern in incuse square, with lines to each corner dot, (cf.S.3443, BMC -; cf.Lanz Sale 60 [1992] [lot 208] = M&M Deutschland Sale 10 [2002] [lot 123], SNG Kayhan 447). Toned, very fine and extremely rare, probably only a few known.

Ex Munzen & Medaillen Deutschland Auction 10, 22 March 2002 (lot 124) illustrated and of great historical interest.
The link on the obverse with the Lydian trite of the lion head with star or wart on the lion's nose and the reverse of the stellate pattern linked to Miletus on the reverse is of upmost importance. There is an extensive footnote on this issue in the M&M Sale 10 catalogue coin type (the previous lot 123 is similar).