Watch List notes:

IONIA. Uncertain mint, Miletus? Circa 650-600 BC. Hemistater (Electrum, 15 mm, 7.21 g), Milesian standard. On the left, forepart of a roaring lion to right, facing, on the right, a male bust to left; all on a striated field. Rev. Two rough incuse square punches separated by a cleft. Linzalone 1045 (this coin). See also the two coins in the Rosen Collection, Monnaies et Médailles 72, 1987, 19 (a trite with only the male bust visible, but struck from the same obverse die and both reverse punches) and also 28 (a hekte with only the male bust visible, but struck from both the same obverse die and at least one of the reverse punches); and the double struck stater as Linzalone 1044. Unique. A fascinating glimpse at one of the earliest coins: this must be related to the slightly earlier electrum pieces with a completely striated obverse surfaces paired with one to three reverse punches. Good very fine.
From the Acer Rubrum Collection, ex Triton VIII, 11 January 2005, 444.

This remarkably well preserved and clear specimen is of the highest numismatic importance: it is very likely the first time that a human figure appeared on a coin. While the confronting roaring lion and bull head design is a classic motif on early electrum, gold and silver coins from Asia Minor, the use of a human face or figure is relatively rare. As this coin has a striated surface background for the design features, we know that it must be closely associated with the well-known striated group of electrum coinage, which is widely considered to comprise the first true coins of the Western world.