★ The invention of coinage ★

IONIA. Uncertain. Circa 650-600 BC. Trite (Electrum, 11 mm, 4.65 g), Lydo-Milesian standard. Uncertain design. Rev. Two incuse square punches with irregular patterns within; the left one with two indentations on the left side, the right one with one. BMC -. BMFA -. Linzalone -. Pozzi -. Rosen -. SNG Kayhan -. SNG von Aulock -. Traité -. Weidauer -. Apparently unpublished and unique. Very fine.

From a European collection, formed before 2005.

Whether the design of this obverse is a pictorial motif or simply indefinite markings remains unclear. Given the observed wear on the obverse die of lots 97-105 below, it is equally plausible that we are encountering yet another worn die here, thereby rendering the initial motif indiscernible.