589. Samos(?).  Circa 600-550 BC. EL 1/24th Stater (0.56 gm). Sphinx seated
left /  Incuse punch with irregularly  spaced dots. Cf. Traité  pl. viii, 7
(1/12th stater - attributed to Chios). Near EF. Very rare and apparently an
unrecorded denomination for this issue. ($500)

Although Babelon attributed this issue to Chios, based on the sphinx on the
obverse, Samos is the more likelymint. The style of the Sphinx is unlike
any other Chian issues, and the punch is nearly identical to the punch used
to strike the Hektes and Hemihektes from Samos with the facing lion’s head
(see Weidauer 199-203).


CNG Mail bid sale #58, 18 Sept 2001, lot 589.
 
 Lot sold for $970.


Used by permission of CNG, www.historicalcoins.com