Ionia or Northern Greece, uncertain mint (Mylasioi in Pangaion?) EL Hekte. Circa 600-550 BC. Phokaic standard. Scorpion / Irregular incuse square. CNG Triton XXVI, 257 (same dies); Roma VII, 472 = Nomos 5, 183 = Gorny & Mosch 190, 245 = A. Tsintsifos, Perix Pangaion Epeiros, p. 161, 1; cf. Traité I 113 = BMC p. 12, 57 (1/48 stater); cf. Leu 30, 1982, 173 (hemihekte of the same types). 2.85g, 10mm.

Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; one of four known specimens, and of great numismatic interest.

From a private European collection.

It has been occasionally suggested that this remarkable type struck on the Phokaic standard may have been produced in the Thraco-Macedonian region, with the rough nature of the reverse incuse cited as evidence in favour of this proposition. Similarities to coins now understood to have been produced in this area lend credence to this idea; a similar scorpion appears on later silver coins which is now attributed to northern Greece (previously attributed to Asia Minor). A. Tsintsifos, in his recent work ‘Perix Pangaion Epeiros’, proposes that the coins of northern Greek origin bearing the scorpion device should be attributed to settlers from Mylasa who arrived in the Pangaion region around the beginning of the 6th century, probably with the Samians. If this should be the case, it is indeed likely that they would have struck coins bearing their native city’s devices, but on a weight standard that was more convenient to them for trade.ly that they would have struck coins bearing their native city’s devices, but on a weight standard that was more convenient to them for trade.