★ A very rare Hemiassarion from Blaundus ★

LYDIA. Blaundus . Pseudo-autonomous issue. Hemiassarion (Bronze, 16 mm, 2.87 g, 1 h), circa 2nd century. Draped bust of youthful Dionysos to right, wearing ivy-wreath. Rev. BΛA/YNΔЄ/ΩN within laurel wreath. BMC 44 = RPC IV online 1199 var. (1 specimen, not draped). SNG München -. SNG von Aulock -. Very rare and of charming style. Very fine.

Our coin probably precedes the BM coin, which is of less refined style and is dated to the time of Marcus Aurelius in RPC. It can not be earlier than the time of Trajan, however, which is when the mint changed the spelling of the ethnic from BΛAOYNΔЄΩN to BΛAYNΔЄΩN.