Uncertain (BC 500-450) cow - Hemistater?

5th century BC. AR (6.05g). Cow standing left, head reverted, calf suckling right / Incuse head of African man left. Gemini sale 4, 2008, 195 (these dies). Of the highest rarity, apparently only the second known. Lightly toned, EF.

A mint in Caria or Lycia in the 5th century BC has been suggested, and its weight of 6.05 grams suggests it was intended as a half-stater of the Aeginetan or Samian standard. The most likely influence might have been the electrum sixths of Phocaea attributed by Bodenstedt (Ph24 and Ph54) to before 522 BC and to the period 477-388 BC. This might be especially relevant since the Phocaean sister-coinage of Mytilene of ca 521-455 BC uses for its reverses the heads of animals and the head of Heracles, all of which are rendered incuse.