EPHESUS SILVER “BEE” TETRADRACHM – RARE ISSUE OF MAGISTRATE KOMAS – XF NGC GRADED GREEK IONIA COIN (Inv. 20321)

$3,750.00

20321. IONIA. EPHESUS. Ca. 394–325 BC.
Silver Tetradrachm, 15.26 g, 24 mm. Issue of magistrate Comas, ca. 380–370 BC.
Obv. E–Φ, bee seen from above. Rev. Forepart of stag right, head reverted, palm tree at left, KOMAΣ (magistrate) in right field.
Kinns, Pixodarus, Class C, p. 201 var., for a magistrate whose name is spelled KOMHΣ.
NGC graded XF, Strike 5/5, Surface 3/5, “bushed.”

This coin is signed by a magistrate named KOMAΣ, otherwise unknown in the Ephesian series according to Kinns. This is the Aeolic or Doric Greek form of Ionic KOMHΣ, an individual who was quite active in the production of Ephesian tetradrachms of Classes C, D, and later J (here, perhaps a different man). Since the reverse die of the present coin appears to be unlisted in Kinns, it is impossible to know if KOMAΣ is indeed a different individual or simply an error, perhaps caused by an engraver more familiar with the Aeolic or Doric Greek dialects. The Aeolic dialect was spoken in Aeolis, just north of Ephesus, and Doric was spoken in the Hexapolis of Caria in the south.