PHLIASIA. Phlious. late 6th-early 5th century BC. Obol or 1/12th Stater (Silver, 10 mm, 1.18 g). Human leg bent to right, with prominent kneecap. Rev. Incuse square divided into six irregular compartments. BCD Peloponnesos 79 ( this coin ). Gr. Mü 803 and pl. XIII, 24. Seltman, Athens, pl. XIV a = NC 1890, pl. XIX, 21. Extremely rare. Nicely toned, and probably the finest example known. Minor marks, otherwise, good very fine.

From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions, ex Nomos 6, 8 May 2012, 68 and from the BCD Collection, LHS 96, 8 May 2006, 79.

The archaic coinage of Phlious is extremely unusual; as a result there was a good deal of controversy over its origins among scholars of the 19th century. Find spots in the north east Peloponnesos - this piece was supposedly found in eastern Arcadia - and the fact that the largest denomination, a half stater (as BCD 77), bears the initial letter phi make the attribution to Phlious quite certain.