Nomos AG
obolos 22 6 Mar 2022
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LYDIA. Uncertain. Ifes (?), Circa 400-380 BC. Hemiobol (Silver, 8 mm, 0.39 g, 6 h). Youthful male head to left. Rev. 𐤦𐤡𐤱𐤤𐤩𐤦𐤪 ('ibfelim' in Lydian) Grain of wheat. M. Egetmeyer: Eine neue Münze mit lydischer Inschrift, in: Kadmos 51 (2012), Heft 1, 175-178, illustration 1-2 = Gemini VIII (2011), 98 (misattributed to Salamis on Cyprus). This type has not been recorded with an example of such fine style as the present coin. Very fine.
The style of this coin is certainly more elaborate and thus should be dated later compared to any other coin of this type that surfaced in the market during the last two decades. The legend on this coin is nevertheless similar to the examples of the cruder style, which might be an indication that the "ifelim" or "ibfelim" which has been translated as "I am the coin of Ifes" (or Ibfes in our case), might not be an issue of a certain individual but a different explanation for the inscription should be proposed. Such a mysterious and interesting little coin!
The style of this coin is certainly more elaborate and thus should be dated later compared to any other coin of this type that surfaced in the market during the last two decades. The legend on this coin is nevertheless similar to the examples of the cruder style, which might be an indication that the "ifelim" or "ibfelim" which has been translated as "I am the coin of Ifes" (or Ibfes in our case), might not be an issue of a certain individual but a different explanation for the inscription should be proposed. Such a mysterious and interesting little coin!