LAKONIA, Achaean League. Lakedaimon (Sparta). Circa 175-168 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 16 mm, 2.46 g, 5 h). Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. Achaean League monogram with Y above, Λ - Α to left and right, and E below; all within laurel wreath. BCD Peloponnesos 850. HGC 5, 642. Very rare. Nicely toned and well struck. Some striking flatness, otherwise, good very fine.

From an old collection in Starnberg, Germany, formed in the 1990s.

The Achaean League coinage of Sparta is quite extraordinarily rare. When the superb BCD example was sold in 2006 it went for CHF 2500 (it was given the estimate of 250), but when it reappeared seven years later in CNG 93 it went for an incredible $8000 (!!!), thus showing quite how rare and desirable this coin is.