Watch List notes:

IONIA. Uncertain. Circa 650-600 BC. Trite (Electrum, 12 mm, 4.72 g), Lydo-Milesian standard. Globular surface with an uncertain pattern of dots. Rev. Oblong incuse divided into two squares. Boston MFA 1749. Pozzi 2350. Rosen 253. SNG von Aulock 7761. Traité I 3 . Rare. An important document in the history of coinage, one of the earliest coins of the western world. Tiny striking cracks and with surfaces as found, otherwise, as made.



At this early period in the history of coinage, a die made for one denomination, might also be used for another if the sizes were compatible. This coin, and the one in the following lot, are perfect examples of this phenomenon since they are clearly struck from the same obverse die. However, the die must have first been used for the hekte since here, on the trite, it is clearly more worn than it was when it was used to strike the hektai!