Lot 1714

Description

Lydia, uncertain king, issued before 561 B.C. and probably c.575 B.C., electrum hemihekte or twelfth stater, (1.162 grams) of Lydian-Milesian (Phoenician standard), probably issued at Sardis, obv. head of roaring lion to right, knob on forehead, rev. single incuse punch, (S.3402 [£300], BMC 17 [p.3], Boston 1770, Weidauer 90). Clear wart, good fine and very rare, being much rarer than the larger electrum third stater.

See note above. The find of early electrum as a foundation deposit in the earliest temple of Ephesus included a number of these twelfth staters of this type. This example although worn is well centred, and free of banker's marks which occur in this series.