★ Unpublished Carian Chersonesos Drachm ★

Greek Asia. Caria, Chersonesus. AR Drachm, 500-480 BC. Obv. Forepart of roaring lion right. Rev. Head of ox (or bull) right; beneath, XE retrograde; all within incuse square. Unlisted in the standard references and apparently unpublished. For types and legend, cf. Rosen 625 (Trihemitartemorion) and SNG Munchen 334 (same). AR. 5.36 g. 18.00 mm. RRR. Extremely rare. Toned. VF. Chersonesos is Greek for 'peninsula' and several cities used the name. The Chersonesos in Caria was small town and a dependency of Knidos - its coinage is very rare. It was a member of the Delian League appearing in Athenian tribute records between 452/1 and 429/8 B.C., paying a phoros of two to three talents. It is also mentioned in a tribute decree of Athens dated to 425/4 BCE. Its site is unlocated.