EPHESUS PHANES ELECTRUM 1/12 STATER – SMALLER DENOMINATION OF EARLIEST COINAGE NAMING A PERSON – XF NGC GRADED GREEK IONIA COIN (Inv. 19273)

$3,450.00

19273. IONIA. EPHESUS. PHANES, ca. 625-600 BC.
Electrum Hemihecte (1/12 stater), 1.16 g, 7 mm.
Obv. Forepart of stag right, head turned to left. Rev. Incuse with linear designs.
Linzalone LN1104 var. (stag facing left); Weidauer 36-37; Boston MFA 1816 = Warren 1731.
NGC graded XF, Strike 5/5, Surface 3/5.

A historical coin, this is a smaller denomination of a series issued by Phanes, an individual otherwise unknown to history. The stater and trite are signed with Phanes’ name and are the first coins to bear a legend and a personal name. The lower denominations, such as this piece, feature variations on Phanes’ unique stag design that is identified as his “badge” on the stater. A similar hemihecte was found at the Artemission of Ephesus in a late 7th century archaeological context – see White Gold, no. 28, pp. 98, 128-130.