★ A rare 1 1/2 assarion from Chios ★

ISLANDS OFF IONIA, Chios. Pseudo-autonomous issue. 1 1/2 Assarion (Bronze, 19 mm, 3.56 g), mid 3rd century AD. X-I-Ω-N Sphinx seated right, placing right forepaw on amphora. Rev. ΑϹϹΑΡΙΟΝ ΗΜΥ/ϹΥ Two crossed thyrsoi; above, bunch of grapes; to right, star. BMC 137. Mavrogordato 136β. RPC VIII online ID 20130. Rare and unusually attractive. Minor roughness, otherwise, very fine.

From the collection of R. Wightman, formed from the late 1970s to the early 2000s.