Ionia. Clazomenae. 380-360 BC. AR Tetradrachm (14.36g, 1h). Prospero 509; Ward 664 (this coin). Very rare. Old cabinet tone. With a fine portrait of Apollo in high relief and of a dazzling beauty. Usual areas of corrosion. Good very fine. From a private collection; former Metropolitan Museum of Art collection, Sotheby's 1973 (4 April) lot 556; former John Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913), John Ward (1832-1912) and William Boyde (1814-1893) collections

This tetradrachm is unquestionably one of the great masterpieces of Greek numismatic art, and surely one of the loveliest. Facing heads were very difficult to engrave and only the very best, or most confident, masters attempted to do them. First used successfully on Sicilian coinage in late 5th century, there was a great vogue for such heads in the 4th century, the best known being those from Rhodes, Amphipolis and Clazomenae