Ionia, Ephesus Tetradrachm - Bee & forepart of stag - BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ

The OP coin is magnificent!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Here is one that is extremely small:


IONIA. Ephesus. circa 550-500 BC or 500-420 BC. AR 1/64th stater (0.14 gm).
Obv: Bee seen from above
Rev: Head of eagle right, EΦ downward in field above.

I have no clue how the engraver managed to get the letters into this thing.

How small is it? It has never been slabbed! Even NGC, who can slab nearly anything, found this coin too small to slab and issued a photo-certificate instead.

Why did I wrote "circa 550-500 BC or 500-420 BC"? I don't know. I am following CNG, who seems to use both datings with the same attribution to Karweise and Kayhan.

 

Thanks, though I can't claim credit for the choice. I was the same way with a preference for the tetradrachms, and was attempting to scroll past this example during the live auction when I accidentally hit the bid button. The blood just drained from my face when I saw the hammer price. I've since had some time to come to terms with the accidental purchase and develop an appreciation for it. I'm also ALOT more careful when viewing live auctions on my phone.

 

Ha. Nice excuse. I used it years ago with a map.

On a more serious note....I now move the mouse far from the bid button, because I have been too quick on the trigger on more than one occasion. Fortunately I was quickly outbid in each case.

 

Ephesos, Ionia, BC 280-258
AE, .42g, 7mm; 7h
Obv.: Bee
Rev.: Stag head right


Ephesos, Ionia, 4th-3rd BC
AE, 1.08g, 11mm; 12h
Obv.: Turreted female head left, Artemis
Rev.: [E-Φ] (mostly off flan, hints of the letters); bee with straight wings

My humble bees

 

C89, awesome new bee coin.

~Doug

 

i concur. it is very nice!