★ Themistokles, victor of the Battle of Salamis ★

IONIA. Magnesia ad Maeandrum. Themistokles, circa 465-459 BC. Hemiobol (Silver, 10 mm, 0.33 g, 6 h). Θ-Ε Head of Hephaistos to right, wearing laureate pilos. Rev. Monogram of ΘE within dotted square border within incuse square. Nollé & Wenninger 5a. Nollé pl. 1, 3. SNG München 585. Very rare. Somewhat porous, otherwise, about very fine.

This rare issue was struck by Themistokles in Magnesia ad Maeandrum, which was one of the five cities that was given to him by the Persian Great King after his ostracism from Athens in the late 470s BC (the others were Myus, Lampsakos, Perkote and Palaiskepsis).