IONIA. Phocaea. Ca. 477-388 BC. EL sixth-stater or hecte (10mm, 2.53 gm). NGC Choice VF 4/5 - 3/5, brushed. Head of Athena left, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with griffin; seal left below / Quadripartite incuse square, partially filled. Bodenstedt 91. BMFA 1914. Situated on the western coast of modern-day Turkey, Phocaea was an ancient Ionian city celebrated for its maritime prowess and commercial acumen. This mercantile dynamism was reflected in the city's distinct contribution to the history of coinage. Phocaea was among the earliest cities to produce electrum coinage, a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver that was a precursor to the later, more standardized coinage in pure gold and silver. This Phocaean electrum coinage, minted around the sixth through fourth centuries BC, was characterized by a range of richly symbolic designs, including mystical creatures, prominent deities, and civic emblems, all indicative of their vibrant cultural life and marked by exceptional detail and high relief owing to the skill of Ionian die engravers. Phocaean coinage holds notable significance for its inclusion of the seal, a marine creature emblematic of the city's affiliation with the sea and its maritime economy. HID09801242017 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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