(BC 520-480) Uncertain Dynast - 1/2 Stater?

ca 521-478 BC. AR Drachm (4.12g, 14mm). Forepart of winged bull right / Quadripartite incuse square divided diagonally. Good VF, lightly toned. Extremely rare. Ex Leu 65 (5/1996), lot 202.

Leu sale attributed this issue to an uncertain mint in Ionia, noting the similarity of the style to the archaic issues of Klazomenai that feature a winged boar forepart. It is also similar in style to various winged boar foreparts on contemporary issues at Mytilene. While agreeing with these comparisons, the weight of this example and its diagonally divided incuse are more consistent with issues of Lesbos than Ionia. The bull is also a common type used at Mytilene, but relatively rare among issues in Ionia. Finally, in addition to using winged boars, Mytilene used winged lions, so the appearance of a winged bull would not be surprising (especially as all motifs are common in eastern/Persian art). So, while the attribution to Mytilene is conjectural, the preponderance of the evidence weighs greater in its favor than than to a mint in Ionia.