MACEDON. Eion. Circa 460-400 BC. Trihemiobol (Silver, 10.5 mm, 0.87 g). Goose standing to right, head turned back to left; above, lizard to left. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. HGC 3.1, 521. SNG ANS 278-284. SNG Copenhagen 175. Attractively toned example. Very fine.

From a Swiss collection, ex Sternberg FPL 12, September 1999, 11, with original ticket.

The trihemiobol coinage of Eion must have been issued in truly enormous numbers given how many exist today; this means that they surely served as the main money of the Delian League/Athenian forces that controlled the city and its area since its capture from the Persians c. 475. But no matter how common they are as a class, really nice examples of this coinage are hard to find – and this is an excellent example. The design, curved to fit the circular field of the coin's obverse, is clearly inspired by circular ring stones: not only are similar scenes found on Archaic Greek intaglios, but the type goes back to Minoan and Mycenaean times, when lentil-shaped carved stones with such designs were often made.