Watch List notes:

GREEK COINS
Ionia

Phokaia, c. 521-478 BC. Diobol (Silver, 9mm, 1.34 g). Head of a nymph to left, wearing a sakkos adorned with a central band and rosette earring. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. Rosen 596-597 var. SNG von Aulock 1813-1815 var. A splendid example with an amazingly attractive archaic head. Good extremely fine.

From the RRG collection, acquired prior to 1978.
This coin is a spectacular example of a somewhat enigmatic coinage that is well known for the attractive female heads it bears. For stylistic reasons these coins were once ascribed to Smyrna but now the balance of opinion points to Phokaia. The nymph head on this coin is quite amazingly archaic in flavor: the eye, hair, chin and general profile hark back to the Daedalic style of the 7th century. The following lot shows the same nymph, but in a more fully mannered and delicate style.