Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3081 12-13 Jan 2020
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Ancients
IONIA. Ephesus. Phanes (ca. 625-600 BC). EL 1/24 stater or myshemihecte (7mm, 0.58 gm). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 4/5. Forepart of stag left, head reverted / Abstract geometric pattern within incuse square punch. Weidauer -, cf. 38 (hemihecte). Linzalone -, cf. LN1105 (stag right). Very rare.
Phanes was evidently a Carian or Ephesian minister or aristocrat of the later 7th century BC. The name is known from a rare group of electrum staters and a lesser denominations that bear a stag and the Greek legend "I am the badge of Phanes" or "of Phanes." These are among the earliest coins to bear legends. It has also been speculated that the name refers to a divinity, perhaps Apollo-Phaneos (light-bringer) or Artemis (due to the stag). The Phanes coinage falls into seven denominations, from a full stater down to a 1/96 stater, all featuring the stag in various poses; only the full stater and third-stater or trite are inscribed, but the distinctive rendering of the stag links all denominations of the series to the same issuer. The fact that Phanes is otherwise unattested as a king or satrap indicates the first coins may have been struck by private individuals, rather than governments or royal courts.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-ionia-ephesus-phanes-ca-625-600-bc-el-1-24-stater-or-myshemihecte-7mm-058-gm-ngc-choice-au-5-5-/a/3081-30082.s?type=CoinArchives3081
HID02906262019
© 2019 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 1000-1500 USD
IONIA. Ephesus. Phanes (ca. 625-600 BC). EL 1/24 stater or myshemihecte (7mm, 0.58 gm). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 4/5. Forepart of stag left, head reverted / Abstract geometric pattern within incuse square punch. Weidauer -, cf. 38 (hemihecte). Linzalone -, cf. LN1105 (stag right). Very rare.
Phanes was evidently a Carian or Ephesian minister or aristocrat of the later 7th century BC. The name is known from a rare group of electrum staters and a lesser denominations that bear a stag and the Greek legend "I am the badge of Phanes" or "of Phanes." These are among the earliest coins to bear legends. It has also been speculated that the name refers to a divinity, perhaps Apollo-Phaneos (light-bringer) or Artemis (due to the stag). The Phanes coinage falls into seven denominations, from a full stater down to a 1/96 stater, all featuring the stag in various poses; only the full stater and third-stater or trite are inscribed, but the distinctive rendering of the stag links all denominations of the series to the same issuer. The fact that Phanes is otherwise unattested as a king or satrap indicates the first coins may have been struck by private individuals, rather than governments or royal courts.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-ionia-ephesus-phanes-ca-625-600-bc-el-1-24-stater-or-myshemihecte-7mm-058-gm-ngc-choice-au-5-5-/a/3081-30082.s?type=CoinArchives3081
HID02906262019
© 2019 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 1000-1500 USD