Ionia, Ephesos, AE Circa 390-300 BC, Bee / Stag

$95.00

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SKU: G14.5 Categories: ,

Description

Greek, Ionia, Ephesos, AE (bronze, 1.99g, 12mm), Circa 390-300 BC
Obv:  E – Φ; Bee
Rev: Stag kneeling left, head right, astragalos above
Ref: SNG München 35-8 (var); BMC 58-62 (var) Rarity/Choice: Common, VF (beautiful earthen highlights on dark green patina)
Note: Ephesos was one of the most prominent cities in ancient Ionia, located on the western coast of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). It was renowned for its strategic location, bustling port, and its significance as a center of trade, culture, and religion. The coin’s obverse depicts a bee, symbolizing the city’s association with the goddess Artemis, who was worshipped there and often depicted with bees. The reverse side features a stag, an emblem that likely reflects Ephesos’s natural environment and perhaps its hunting traditions. These images not only represent the city’s religious and cultural significance but also its economic prosperity, as Ephesos was a major center of trade and commerce in the Ionian region during this period.