Sale: CNG 69, Lot: 399. Closing Date: Jun 08, 
2005. IONIA, Magnesia ad Maeandrum. 
Themistokles. Circa 465-459 BC. AR Hemiobol 
(0.36 gm, 5h). BID Estimate $500  

IONIA, Magnesia ad Maeandrum. Themistokles. Circa 
465-459 BC. AR Hemiobol (0.36 gm, 5h). Head of 
Hephaistos right, wearing laureate pileus / QE 
monogram within incuse square. Nollé & Wenninger 
Th5a; Nollé pl. 1, 3. Fine/VF, struck with worn 
obverse die, light porosity. Extremely rare and 
historically important. ($500)

Themistokles was perhaps the most important, and 
certainly one of the most powerful, political 
figures in early fifth century Athens. He 
persuaded the Athenians to use the newly found 
wealth from the silver mines of Laurion to build a 
navy, essential to their defeat of the Persians a 
short time later. Sometime in the early 460s BC, 
Themistokles was ostracized. He fled to Asia 
Minor, where he was well received by the Persian 
king, who granted him the income of three cities 
in Ionia. Themistokles chose Magnesia on the 
Maeander as his new headquarters, where these 
coins were struck.

Copyright © CNG 2002
 Developed by DataArt 2002

High bid of $1020, $1173 including 15% buyers fee, or approximately €826.2, £561, C$1275, A$1326, on June 8, 2005.

Used by permission of CNG, www.cngcoins.com