Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 132 30-31 May 2022
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Asia Minor, Uncertain mint
Hecte circa 600-550, EL 2.33 g. Panther reclining l., head facing. Rev. Bipartite incuse square. cf. Aufhäuser sale 10, 1993, 167 (hemihecte).
Apparently unrecorded. A very interesting and fascinating issue. Extremely fine
Ex Giessener Münzhandlung Dieter Gorny 76, 1996, 182 and Tkalec 29 February 2000, 102 sales.
Although the precise identity of the mint responsible for this beautiful and apparently unpublished electrum hecte is uncertain, it is tempting to suspect an Ionian mint, perhaps in the neighbourhood of Ephesus. The double incuse punch with irregular raised lines on the reverse is reminiscent of the reverse used for the slightly earlier electrum issues of Ephesus featuring a stag and naming Phanes. Also similar to the celebrated Phanes issues is the treatment of the spots on the panther's fur. As on the stag of Phanes, the panther's spots are represented here in the form of rings. The facing head of the animal invites comparison with the panther/lion mask that appears on early electrum issues from uncertain Ionian mints (e.g., Weidauer 158-165) sometimes associated with Miletos and Samos.
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Hecte circa 600-550, EL 2.33 g. Panther reclining l., head facing. Rev. Bipartite incuse square. cf. Aufhäuser sale 10, 1993, 167 (hemihecte).
Apparently unrecorded. A very interesting and fascinating issue. Extremely fine
Ex Giessener Münzhandlung Dieter Gorny 76, 1996, 182 and Tkalec 29 February 2000, 102 sales.
Although the precise identity of the mint responsible for this beautiful and apparently unpublished electrum hecte is uncertain, it is tempting to suspect an Ionian mint, perhaps in the neighbourhood of Ephesus. The double incuse punch with irregular raised lines on the reverse is reminiscent of the reverse used for the slightly earlier electrum issues of Ephesus featuring a stag and naming Phanes. Also similar to the celebrated Phanes issues is the treatment of the spots on the panther's fur. As on the stag of Phanes, the panther's spots are represented here in the form of rings. The facing head of the animal invites comparison with the panther/lion mask that appears on early electrum issues from uncertain Ionian mints (e.g., Weidauer 158-165) sometimes associated with Miletos and Samos.
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