Phokaia (BC 625-575) EL Stater

ca 625-575 BC. EL Stater (16.35g). Seal swimming left, octopus clamped in its mouth, three square objects around / Two rough incuse squares set side-by-side, one smaller than the other. Apparently unpublished and unique, but Near VF.

This coin, one of six known staters of Phokaia, represents a new variety of type, in addition to a seal and two griffin head types recorded by Bodenstedt. It is certainly the most playful, with its depiction of a seal munching on a hapless cephalopod.

File information
Filename:	620361.jpg
City/Mint name:	Phokaia EL
Rating (3 votes):
Keywords:	electrum / archaic
References:	cf. Bodenstedt 1.2 and Weidauer 188-189 for early staters of Phokaia with seal
Valuation:	CNG Triton VI (1/2003), lot 361 ($17,000 + comm)
Photo courtesy of:	Classical Numismatic Group - www.cngcoins.com
Filesize:	38 KiB
Date added:	Mar 08, 2010
Dimensions:	325 x 136 pixels
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URL:	http://www.asiaminorcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=6970
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