MACEDON. Uncertain mint. 420-390 BC. Obol (Silver, 9 mm, 0.47 g, 4 h). Youthful male head (Hermes?) to right, wearing a petasos with the brim behind rolled up; all within a circle of dots. Rev. Laurel wreath with ties below. Apparently unpublished save for its only known auction appearance, Gemini IX, 2012, 51. But for an obol very possibly struck from the same obverse die, which is identified as simply being a youthful male head, see: AMNG III, 2, p. 135, 10 and pl. XXVI, 17. Of great rarity, seemingly unique. Of very fine Classical style, c. 400 BC. Slightly rough surfaces and with a reverse lightly struck, otherwise, very fine.

From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions, ex Gemini IX, 9 January 2012, 51.

This coin is assigned to Macedonia simply because of its obverse, which bears a youthful male "portrait" head, perhaps of Hermes. This is very similar to other youthful male heads - as Hermes and Apollo - that are certainly from that area. Which mint it comes from is, of course, another matter. It was sold as being from an "uncertain Macedonian mint", and compared to both a coin from Tragilos and to one published by Raymond (neither of which have anything to do with this other than having a head of Hermes). The fact that it may well share an obverse die with another obol published in the AMNG (see above), but which bears a typically Macedonian four-part roof coffer reverse, makes its attribution to Macedonia rather certain.